A female aspirant for the Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency House of Representatives seat, Mrs. Madumere Nkasiobi, has accused party officials of discrimination, disenfranchisement and widespread irregularities during the party’s primary election held on May 29, 2026.
Addressing journalists in Umuahia on Wednesday, Nkasiobi, a legal practitioner and indigene of Old Umuahia Olokoro in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State, alleged that she was deliberately excluded from the counting process because she was the only woman among the aspirants.
According to her, delegates arrived at the Umuahia South venue at about 4:30 p.m., after several hours of delay. She claimed that party officials counted the six male aspirants and their supporters but stopped the exercise when they reached her queue despite what she described as a large turnout of supporters behind her.
She alleged that neither she nor her supporters were counted at the Umuahia South venue and claimed a similar situation occurred at the primary venues in Umuahia North and Ikwuano, effectively excluding her from the exercise.
Nkasiobi described the development as discriminatory and disenfranchising, alleging that some party members still view politics as an exclusive preserve of men.
She disclosed that she had submitted petitions to the party’s appeal committee, national chairman and other relevant authorities but had yet to receive any response.
The aspirant said her decision to contest was driven by her commitment to good governance, youth inclusion and grassroots development, noting that she responded to calls from members of her support groups to seek elective office.
She maintained that women should not be discouraged from participating in politics through actions capable of undermining their constitutional rights and aspirations.
Nkasiobi further alleged that the conduct of the primaries across the constituency was marred by poor organisation and irregularities. According to her, delegates arrived late at several venues, while many supporters left after waiting for hours without any clear information.
She also accused some aspirants of disrupting the exercise through what she described as disorderly conduct, including bringing non-party members to the venue and creating confusion during the process.
Questioning the choice of Olokoro as the venue for the Umuahia South primary, she alleged that the location was selected to favour a particular aspirant.
She further alleged that another aspirant, Hon. Obinna Nwosu, did not actively participate in the primaries and should not be considered in the contest.
Providing details of the exercise, Nkasiobi said aspirants were only informed of the venue in the early hours of May 29.
She alleged that when she and her supporters arrived at the initially designated civic centre in Olokoro, they found the facility locked and were later directed to relocate to Olokoro Primary School, Ahiaukwu.
She claimed that party officials, delegates and electoral officers failed to arrive on time, leaving aspirants and supporters uncertain for most of the day.
Nkasiobi said she also visited the Umuahia North primary venue at Mofy’s Mansion, where she alleged there were no officials, delegates or electoral officers on ground as of 3 p.m.
To document her participation, she said she recorded video evidence and took photographs with her supporters at both venues.
According to her, many of her supporters who arrived early eventually left before voting commenced because of the prolonged delays, while delegates only began arriving around 4:30 p.m.
Calling on the party’s national leadership to intervene, Nkasiobi urged it to investigate the conduct of the Abia State chapter and address issues she said could undermine confidence in the party.
She warned that failure to address the alleged irregularities could discourage women and young people from participating in politics.
The aspirant stressed that her campaign was not solely about her personal ambition but about promoting fairness, inclusion and equal opportunities for women seeking elective positions.
She appealed to party leaders, women groups and well-meaning Nigerians to support efforts aimed at protecting democratic values and preventing discrimination against female aspirants.
Nkasiobi noted that she was the only female aspirant in the race for the Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency seat and one of the few women seeking elective office within the party in the South-East.
She said her decision to contest was inspired by her involvement in the Obedient Movement and the Abia State Village Boys Movement, as well as her belief in good governance and national development.
Nkasiobi called on party leaders to uphold democratic principles and ensure fairness, transparency and equal opportunities for all aspirants.
