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#watchvideos as Amb. Lotanna Ikebunwa Emerges Clear Winner of NDC Nnewi Federal Constituency Primaries, Despite Disruptions, Affirms Grassroots Dominance

Amb. Lotanna Ikebunwa has emerged as the clear winner of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) House of Representatives primaries for Nnewi Federal Constituency, further cementing what supporters and political observers describe as his status as the most popular political figure currently seeking the party's ticket in the constituency. The direct primary election, which was conducted across Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Ekwusigo Local Government Areas, witnessed an unprecedented turnout of party members and supporters, but was later overshadowed by controversy, disruptions and allegations of attempts to alter the outcome after Ikebunwa reportedly established a commanding lead across the three local government areas.



Our correspondent, who monitored the exercise, observed that the overwhelming support demonstrated for Ikebunwa throughout the primaries left little doubt about the preference of NDC members in the constituency. 


According to one party member, the extent of Ikebunwa's popularity became obvious in Nnewi North when supporters erupted in celebration and lifted him shoulder-high after it became clear that more than 1,000 people had lined up behind him, indicating that he had secured victory in the area.


"The moment it became obvious that Amb. Lotanna Ikebunwa had won Nnewi North, supporters began celebrating and carried him shoulder-high. Everybody at the venue could see where the people's support was. It was after this that attempts allegedly began to frustrate the process because it was obvious he was heading for victory," the party faithful said.




In Ekwusigo, women who were on the line alleged that a similar scenario played out, where Ikebunwa reportedly attracted the largest queue of supporters during the direct primary exercise. They said that despite the visible number of party members standing behind Ikebunwa's poster, counting was allegedly halted midway, and only 59 votes were eventually allocated to him. 


They said that "There is video evidence showing the number of people who stood behind his poster before the counting was stopped. Many of those who queued in support of him were allegedly not counted," the women stated.


When asked for evidence, they insisted that video recordings from different locations across the constituency showed that Ikebunwa enjoyed majority support and emerged as the most preferred aspirant in the race.


According to Ikechukwu Uzukwu Emmanuel, the Local government Chairman of Nnewi South LGA, Ikebunwa secured 503 votes in Nnewi South, while supporters contend that his support base in Ekwusigo was significantly larger than the 59 votes eventually recorded for him. They further alleged that before accreditation commenced in Nnewi North, more than 1,000 party members had openly lined up in support of Ikebunwa, demonstrating what they described as an overwhelming mandate from the grassroots.


However, when it became increasingly evident that Ikebunwa was on course for a landslide victory, Hon. Peter Uzokwe and Hon. Smart Okafor insisted on introducing an accreditation process which, according to them, was not applied in the same manner in other local government areas.



Furthermore, when fresh accreditation procedures were introduced, it still became obvious that he would still emerge victorious, leading to the disruption of the election process, particularly at Anaedo Hall in Nnewi North. 



Despite the controversies and tension that characterised parts of the exercise, supporters praised Ikebunwa for maintaining restraint and repeatedly calling for calm among his followers. 


"He refused to allow the situation to degenerate into violence even when many of his supporters felt provoked. Throughout the exercise, he continued to preach peace and insisted that the people's mandate should prevail through lawful and democratic means," the NDC party faithful said.


Political observers note that beyond the controversies surrounding the conduct of the primaries, the exercise reinforced Ikebunwa's growing influence and grassroots appeal across Nnewi Federal Constituency 


However stakeholders across the constituency argue that the turnout witnessed in Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Ekwusigo has demonstrated that Ikebunwa currently commands the broadest support base among aspirants within the constituency and remains the most popular contender heading into the next phase of the electoral process.

For his supporters, the events of the primaries amounted to a clear political statement from NDC members across the constituency: that Amb. Lotanna Ikebunwa won the contest and enjoys widespread acceptance among the party's grassroots, making him the leading political force within Nnewi Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general elections.

These results remains provisional until announced by the headquarters of the NDC in Abuja. 

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