Nigerian LP Aspirant Threatens Legal Action Over Alleged Ticket Racketeering

Hon. Jonah Ihie, a Labour Party (LP) aspirant for the Oju/Obi Federal Constituency seat in Nigeria's House of Representatives, has threatened legal action against the party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Ihie alleges wrongful emergence of another candidate, Hon. Blessed Onah, for the 2027 general elections.

“

He could not have become our party’s flag bearer barely two weeks after joining the Labour Party.

Ihie, who is challenging Onah's candidacy, claims that Onah, a former PDP Minority Leader in the Benue State House of Assembly, joined the LP only two weeks prior to allegedly being handed the party's ticket. Ihie stated that Onah contested and lost the PDP primary on May 18, defected to the LP on June 4, purchased the LP nomination form on June 13, and participated in the LP primary on June 30. Ihie asserts he was the sole aspirant from the constituency to purchase the nomination form before Onah's defection.

“

Before his defection, I was the only aspirant from the constituency who purchased the nomination form. It is difficult to understand how someone who recently joined the party emerged as the candidate.

Further allegations include that no valid primary election was conducted in Oju/Obi, with no ballot papers or INEC officials present. Ihie's lawyers have filed a petition arguing that Onah was still a PDP member when he obtained the LP nomination form and had not completed the necessary processes to become a bona fide LP member. Meanwhile, some LP officials in Benue State have accused Onah of falsely presenting himself as a party member and attempting to organize unauthorized activities, warning the public against associating with him.

“

Onah was falsely presenting himself as a member of the party and attempting to organise party activities without authorisation.