A concerned constituent from Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South Federal Constituency, Mr Idoko Chidozie has threatened court action if Hon Tony Ugwu is not disqualified from the race to represent the constituency.
Idoko’s threat was contained in a petition written through his lawyer, Dominic C Aroh, Esq, addressed to the Chairman of the NDC in Enugu State and copied to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, NDC National Chairman, among others.
In the petition obtained by journalists on Wednesday, Idoko alleged that Ugwu possessed dual party membership, adding that giving him the NDC ticket would be to the detriment of the party.
According to him, Ugwu, who is the Nsukka Local Government Area Coordinator of Hon Ikeje Asogwa Enugu North All Progressives Congress, APC, Senatorial candidate for the June bye-election, is said to be running to get the NDC ticket.
He noted that such a development amounted to dual party membership.
Idoko, an NDC member from Nsukka Local Government Area said, though Hon. Tony Ugwu as a Citizen of Nigeria is entitled to belong to any Political Party of his choice as guaranteed under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended), he was not permitted to belong to two political parties at the same time.
He said, “We are aware that Hon. Tony Ugwu contested for House of Representatives Nsukka/Igbo Eze South under the All Progressives Congress and was not nominated by their leader Governor Peter Ndubisi Mba.
“On the 10/05/2026, Hon. Ikeje Asogwa nominated Hon. Tony Ugwu to lead his 2026/27 Senatorial Campaign in Nsukka Local Government Area as Coordinator under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“From the brief our client, Hon. Tony Ugwu has already commenced his responsibility as Nsukka LG Coordinator of the Hon. Ikeje Asogwa Campaign Council when he distributed Twenty Thousand Naira to some APC members from Nsukka Local Government Area last week
“We are aware that Section 77 (4) of the Electoral Act 2026 mandates all Parties to make available to the Commission their Register not later than 21 days before the date fixed for the Party Primaries. Section 77 (5) of the Electoral Act, 2026 clearly states that only members whose names are contained in the Register shall be eligible to vote and be voted for in the Party Primaries.
“We are aware that the Nigeria Democratic Congress submitted their Membership Register to the Commission on the 6/05/2026 in obedience to Section 77(5) of the Electoral Act.
“Hon. Tony Ugwu by 10/05/2026 is/was still a Member of All Progressives Congress (APC) following his appointment and subsequent discharging of his duty in sharing Twenty Thousand Naira (N20, 000) to some Nsukka LG Party Members.”
The petitioner further contended that “Assuming that Hon. Tony Ugwu had registered with Nigeria Democratic Congress before the 6/05/2026 when they submitted their Party Register to the Commission, which means that he has dual Party Membership.
“Dual Membership of a Political Party comes with Criminal Liability and if it is established that Hon. Tony Ugwu was both registered as Members of All Progressives Congress and Nigeria Democratic Congress by the time the two Parties submitted their Register, he is Correctional Home bound.
“Hon. Tony Ugwu may be on a political voyage allegedly orchestrated by the All Progressives Congress to assist the weak candidate of the party in securing electoral advantage, knowing fully well that his candidature under the Nigeria Democratic Congress may eventually be nullified by the court if he succeeds in obtaining the party’s ticket.
“It will not be in the interest of our client’s Party that someone with dual registration should even be allowed to participate in the Primary Election.
“Hon. Tony Ugwu reportedly resigned his appointment as Coordinator, Hon. Ikeje Asogwa Campaign Council last night to come to his reserved Party to pick their ticket.”
He demanded that, “That Hon. Tony Ugwu should not be cleared following some statutory baggage that will rob our client’s Party victory.
“In the event the Party decides to clear Hon. Tony Ugwu, we shall proceed to Court which may not be in the interest of your Party.”
When contacted for his reaction to the petition, Ugwu, who is a former chairman of Nsukka Local Government Area told DAILY POST that: “I have not seen anything (petition), but I have my letter of resignation.”
Asked: ‘Resignation from the APC? He responded “Yes”.