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A governorship aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Usiwoghene Unuafe, has formally challenged the party's nomination of Chief Great Ovdeje Ogboru as its candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
In a pre-action notice dated September 1, 2026, Unuafe demanded the immediate withdrawal of Ogboru's purported nomination and asked the party to recognise him as the candidate who lawfully emerged from the Delta State governorship nomination process held on May 22, 2026.
The notice was addressed to the ADC National Chairman, the party's National Working Committee (NWC) and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to the document, which was acknowledged by the office of the ADC National Chairman on September 1, Unuafe maintained that he was a duly screened, cleared and participating aspirant in the party's governorship primary.
The document, titled "Formal Pre-Action Notice: Demand for Immediate Correction and Withdrawal of the Purported Nomination/Submission of Chief Great Ovdeje Ogboru as the ADC Candidate for Governor of Delta State and Demand for Recognition of Emmanuel Usiwoghene Unuafe, Ph.D. as the Candidate Lawfully Emerging from the ADC Delta State Governorship Nomination Process of 22 May 2026," outlined his claims.
"I, Dr. Emmanuel Usiwoghene Unuafe, a duly screened, cleared and participating aspirant for the Delta State governorship ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 governorship election, hereby issue this Formal Pre-Action Notice and Demand to the National Working Committee of the ADC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)," the notice stated.
Unuafe said he was issuing the notice in his personal capacity and without legal representation at this stage of the dispute.
The development signals a fresh disagreement over the ADC's governorship nomination process in Delta State, with Unuafe insisting that the party withdraw Ogboru's nomination and recognise him as its lawful candidate for the 2027 election.
A copy of the notice was also submitted to INEC at its headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.
