By Nsan Neji
PORT HARCOURT (CONVERSEER) – Members of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) Alumni Association have initiated legal action against prominent figures in the body, alleging widespread electoral fraud during the recent election of its National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BOT).
The writ of summons, served at the Alumni national secretariat in Choba on Monday, names Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, former Labour Party Senator Darlington Nwokocha, outgoing and incoming BOT chairmen Tonye Princewill and Paul Abbey, among others, as defendants.
The four aggrieved claimants—Ikpe Samuel, Matthew Ogagavworia, Sam Woka and Dr Independence Enyindah—contend that the national convention held in Umuahia, Abia State, violated the association’s constitution by appointing rather than electing officers. They allege that Otti, in concert with Abbey acting as BOT chairman, exceeded his statutory four-year tenure, serving from 2019 to 2025 without proper mandate.
In their statement of claim, the plaintiffs assert that Abbey has “run the UNIPORT Alumni Association as his personal property,” bringing in individuals without consultation and in breach of electoral guidelines. “Look at the purported NEC and BOT—five members from Abbey’s Kalabari tribe have been installed,” one aggrieved member told our correspondent. “Most of these cherry-picked members are not even registered members of the association.”
The claimants further charge that none of the rules laid down by the hand-picked Electoral Committee, chaired by Ben Willie Owuapu, were followed. They describe this committee as “another Kalabari tribesman appointed by Abbey,” whose decisions allegedly ignored constitutional stipulations.
Nwokocha, who doubles as the acting factional National Secretary of the Labour Party, now leads the contested NEC. The plaintiffs warn that this executive, along with the newly installed BOT under Nwokocha’s direction, risks immediate dissolution should the court find in their favour.
Accompanied by affidavits and detailed statements of malfeasance, the claimants are prepared to argue that repeated warnings to Abbey were disregarded. They allege that his unilateral appointments and procedural breaches amount to serious constitutional violations, undermining the integrity of the association.
Legal proceedings are set to begin in earnest in the Port Harcourt High Court in the coming weeks. The plaintiffs hope the judiciary will annul the disputed election, restore compliance with the alumni constitution and safeguard the association from further reputational harm.
