Ekunkonye Junior in this piece writes that in the political terrain of Orumba North and South, Honorable Frank Chike Okoli is a name that keeps coming up. Popularly called Aneliaku Junior, he claims to be the man who planted the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), in the two local governments. But after losing out in what he calls a flawed primary, he is now speaking out, even as he pledges allegiance to Peter Obi and the NDC project.
My name is Honorable Frank Chike Okoli, Aneliaku Junior, he begins. “Aneliaku is my father’s title. So when he died, I took over the title as the first son. I’m from Ndiouwu in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.”
For Okoli, politics is not new. In the last NDC primary, he threw his hat into the ring for the House of Representatives seat for Orumba North and South.
“I went for screening, and I’m a stakeholder. Let me put it like that, I’m a big stakeholder in the NDC in Orumba North and South, because I was the person that brought the NDC in Orumba North and South,” he said.
To buttress his claim, he pointed to physical structures. “Offices in Orumba North, offices in Orumba South, I gave it to NDC. In my own ward Ndiouwu, the office the NDC has is from me.”
Beyond offices, he said he led mobilization during the party’s online registration. “I championed the process of registering a good number of Orumba North and South indigenes to NDC through roadshows.”
But the dream of flying the party’s flag hit the rocks. Okoli alleges that the primary was flawed from the start.
“The new electoral law stipulates that in every ward there should be a primary. But they did a kangaroo thing in the local government headquarters, both in North and South, without informing anybody,” he lamented.
He said he chose not to participate. “I was informed that this is not what is supposed to be done. So I decided not to partake in it.”
On why he lost, his answer was blunt: “In NDC, what happens is what we cannot explain because the ticket goes to he who has more money. I don’t have that money to buy myself through.”
Despite the disappointment, Okoli insists he remains in the party. His reason: Peter Obi. “The presidential candidate of NDC has been my candidate right from Labour Party to NDC. Whatever happens, I will stay with NDC.”
He defended Obi’s capacity to turn Nigeria around, citing his record in Anambra. “Security wise, he reduced crime. Education wise, he handed schools to missionaries and Anambra became first. Economically, he left money for the state.”
He also referenced Governor Alex Otti of Abia as proof that four years is enough to make impact. “If that chance is given to P2B to run Nigeria, he will do more than expected within that four years.”
On the internal crisis, Okoli is not holding back. He blamed the party founder and the National Secretary. “I’m apportioning the blame to these leaders, Sir Dickson and the National Secretary, Enekwezu.”
Yet he welcomed Kwankwaso’s entry. “He is a very strong politician in the north. As a political party, if you have Kano at your palm, you are way up in the north.”
Okoli says he has not withdrawn from the race and is pursuing it legally. He revealed the person given the ticket only registered in NDC on May 10, 2026, after contesting elsewhere.
A public administration graduate with a PhD in view and currently a legislative aide to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Reps, Okoli says his advice to NDC leaders is simple: “Mend your ways. Nigeria is big and the population cannot be swayed.”
