“I Choose Justice, I Choose NDC” — JUA Speaks Amid Aniocha South Assembly Ticket Dispute

Hon Jeffrey Ugochukwu Adigwe.

As the Aniocha South NDC Assembly ticket controversy deepens, Jeffrey Ugochukwu Adigwe has declared that his decision to seek judicial redress over the disputed primary is not an act of disloyalty or a declaration of war against the party. 

Adigwe, who has challenged the emergence of Hon. Thompson Onochei Osheokwu as the party’s candidate, said seeking justice through lawful means should not be mistaken for hostility, insisting that his commitment to the NDC remains unwavering.

The dispute followed reports that Adigwe emerged ahead of other aspirants in the Aniocha South House of Assembly primary, only for Osheokwu to subsequently emerge as the party’s candidate. 

The development triggered protests by aggrieved party members and supporters, with calls for the alleged primary result to be respected. 

Adigwe has since opted for the courts, maintaining that he will continue to pursue his legitimate aspiration to represent Aniocha South while allowing the law to determine the matter.

In a significant show of restraint, however, Adigwe said he holds Osheokwu in high regard and would not allow political competition to degenerate into personal conflict. 

“I hold my brother, Hon. Thompson Onochei Osheokwu, in high regard,” he said, stressing that after every political contest, the aspirants remain brothers, neighbours, and members of the same political family.

Reaffirming his loyalty to the NDC, Adigwe declared his support for Peter Obi for President, Dcn. Chris Iyovwaye for Governor — for now, Chief Barr. Engr. Victor Onyekachi Ochei for Senate, Hon. Theodora Isioma Ndah for House of Representatives, and Hon. Thompson Onochei Osheokwu for House of Assembly — for now. 

His repeated “for now” qualification signals that while he remains committed to the party’s broader political project, he has not abandoned his own Assembly ambition or prejudged the outcome of the legal process.

Adigwe called for peace, respect, and unity within the party, saying there is no contradiction between supporting the NDC and pursuing justice. 

“Let us allow the law to speak, let justice prevail, and let our unity remain greater than our differences,” he appealed, declaring: “I choose peace. I choose respect. I choose unity. I choose justice. And above all, I choose the NDC and the people we have come together to serve.”