NDC Aspirant Threatens Legal Action Over Delta South Senatorial Primary

A senatorial aspirant of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Delta South, Dr Austin Orette, has threatened to take legal action over the outcome of the party’s recent primary election.

Orette, who contested in the primary, alleged that the process was marred by irregularities and did not reflect the wishes of delegates who participated in the exercise.

Naija News reports that in a statement issued on Sunday in Owhelogbo, Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, the aspirant said information available to his camp suggested that the outcome of the primary raised serious concerns about transparency, fairness and internal democracy within the party.

The aspirant accused the party of departing from the principles expected in a credible democratic process.

He alleged that some individuals who did not actively participate in the primary may have been favoured over those who presented themselves before delegates and took part in the exercise.

According to him, such a development has created doubts about the integrity of the process and the credibility of the party’s internal democratic system.

Orette said the matter was not only about his personal ambition but about protecting the confidence of party members and voters in the electoral process.

“The issue before us is larger than any individual ambition. It concerns the integrity of the electoral process, the sanctity of the ballot and the confidence of ordinary Nigerians who continue to believe that politics can be conducted with honesty and accountability,” he said.

Orette called on the leadership of the NDC to publish what he described as the authentic results of the Delta South senatorial primary election.

He also asked the party to provide clarity on the selection process and address the concerns being raised by members and stakeholders across the senatorial district.

The aspirant maintained that political parties asking Nigerians for public trust must first show that they can uphold democratic values within their own structures.

He warned that when political parties fail to respect transparency and due process, public confidence in the wider democratic system could be weakened.

The NDC aspirant said he would use available party mechanisms to challenge any action he believed undermined the primary election.

He added that he would not hesitate to approach the court if the issues were not properly addressed by the party.

“We will challenge any action that undermines the democratic process through the appropriate party mechanisms and, where necessary, through the courts of law,” he stated.

Orette said the future of Nigeria’s democracy depended on credible electoral processes, accountability and respect for the will of party members.

The aspirant urged NDC members, his supporters and all advocates of democratic governance to support the call for transparency in resolving the dispute.

He said fairness, accountability and due process must guide the handling of the matter if the party wants to maintain the trust of its members in Delta South.

Orette insisted that the dispute should be resolved in a way that strengthens internal democracy and assures party members that their votes and voices matter.

However, the leadership of the NDC had yet to respond to the allegations as of the time of filing this report.