Enone 2027: Report of my replacement by Ralph Odo is complete fallacy — David Onoja

Pharmacist David Onoja Ekokowoicho, a House of Representatives hopeful for Ado, Okpokwu and Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, has dismissed reports that he has been replaced as the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, candidate for the 2027 election.

Onoja, who spoke during an appearance on The Conversation on Idoma Television, described the report as false and politically motivated.

He said he remains firmly in the race and has not communicated any intention to withdraw from the contest.

According to him, reports that Dr Ralph Odo had replaced him as the party’s candidate were “complete fallacy.”

Onoja said, “This is politics, so you expect propaganda all the time. That is complete fallacy. There is nothing like that.

“Big respect to Dr Ralph Odo. We all ran the race together from the days of ADC down to now, NDC. And by the grace of God, the party sees me to be most capable for this position, and that’s why they have given me the ticket.

“The position of the party has not changed. To the best of my knowledge, it has not changed.”

The aspirant further argued that he had neither withdrawn from the race nor consented to any process aimed at replacing him.

“I didn’t consent to that, and I don’t intend to consent to it. I’m coming in to deliver my people by the grace of God,” he said.

Onoja also cited provisions of the Electoral Act while insisting that his candidature remained intact.

Beyond the controversy surrounding his candidature, he said his campaign would focus on security, unemployment, healthcare and infrastructural development if elected.

He lamented what he described as poor representation and underdevelopment in Enone Federal Constituency, arguing that the people deserved more than the current level of development.

Onoja also criticised the culture of sharing rice, wrappers and other temporary items as constituency empowerment, saying he would rather support initiatives capable of creating sustainable livelihoods.

He said his priority would be to tackle insecurity, create opportunities for young people, improve access to healthcare and support basic infrastructure such as roads and water.

The NDC hopeful further pledged to establish constituency offices across the three local government areas to improve accessibility and engagement with constituents.