NDC Primaries: Akuma Criticizes Plan to Allocate Ebonyi Senatorial and Representative Seats to a Single Ward as Unfair.

A chief of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Chief Nelson Akuma, has expressed concern over a proposal within the party in Ebonyi State to zone both the senatorial and House of Representatives seats to a single ward.

Speaking after his screening in Abuja, Akuma warned that such a move could undermine the party’s prospects in the upcoming general election in the state.

He noted that Ebonyi South’s senatorial zone—comprising Afikpo North, Afikpo South, Ivo, Ohaozara, and Onicha local government areas—contains 63 wards and 1,044 polling units, and that it would be inappropriate to allocate both senatorial and representative seats to one ward.

Akuma said allowing the proposal would erode inclusion and a sense of belonging among voters.

He added that Ebonyi South is rich in competence, quality, and talent, and that there is no justification for selecting candidates from a single ward.

Further, Akuma described those advocating for the single-ward zoning as “enemies of the party” in the state and urged state and national leaders to intervene swiftly to prevent chaos.

“Ebonyi South produced the first governor of the Eastern Region, Dr. Francis Akanu Ibiam; the first lady of Nigeria, Lady Uche Azikiwe; and Nigeria’s first minister of Education, Onyiba Aja Nwachuku, among others,” he said. “We are not lacking in talent, quality, or competence. When Ebonyi South—then known as Afikpo Province—was part of Abia State, it produced the first executive governor of Abia, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, who is from present‑day Ohaozara Local Government Area.”

Akuma appealed for fair representation to mitigate conflict, stating, “There is no reason whatsoever for one ward to have both the Senate and House of Representative seats zoned to it. That is a great injustice to the other wards. I am therefore appealing to the leaders of the party both in Ebonyi State and Abuja to intervene as quickly as possible to avert this looming danger.”

He argued that proper zoning would position the NDC as the party to beat in Ebonyi State.

Akuma said the party is growing rapidly in the state and that no one should try to halt its momentum. “Everyone knows what happened when Peter Obi visited Abakaliki. That was just a glimpse of how the people of Ebonyi State feel about the NDC,” he said. “Today, it remains the most popular and acceptable party in the state, but if those people succeed in their plan, it would not bode well for our party. As one of the state leaders, I have already started receiving complaints from many well‑meaning supporters that this must not happen,” Akuma concluded.

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