Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Pierre Antoine
Tension has continued to rise within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) following controversies surrounding the party’s House of Representatives primary elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with several dissatisfied aspirants threatening to challenge the process in court if their complaints are not addressed by the party leadership.
Speaking after the disputed primary election held on Friday, May 29, 2026, in Abuja, one of the aggrieved aspirants, Emmanuel Danjuma, alleged that the results announced by election officials did not reflect the actual votes cast during the exercise. Danjuma accused party officials of manipulating figures during collation and claimed that the process lacked transparency. “We saw the chairman announce votes that were not cast,” he said, warning that affected aspirants would seek legal redress if the party failed to review the outcome and address the alleged irregularities.
The controversy followed disagreements over the method adopted for selecting candidates. Several aspirants accused the NDC leadership, led by former Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, of abandoning an earlier agreement to conduct direct primaries and instead attempting to impose candidates through consensus arrangements. According to the aspirants, party members were expecting an open and competitive process but were confronted with decisions allegedly taken behind closed doors.
Earlier on Friday, May 29, 2026, tensions escalated at Kabusa Ward in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Federal Capital Territory, where angry supporters and party members openly protested the conduct of the primary election. One of the aspirants, Hassan Mohammed, alleged that some individuals who participated in the voting process were not registered members of the party. He further claimed that certain election officials attempted to influence the outcome through financial inducements and other forms of manipulation.
Witnesses at the venue reported scenes of frustration as some supporters tore their NDC membership cards and accused party officials of undermining internal democracy. Several protesters demanded the cancellation of the exercise and called for a fresh primary, insisting that the process failed to reflect the wishes of genuine party members at the grassroots level.
Additional allegations emerged during the exercise, with opposition members accusing election officials of encouraging non-members to participate in the voting process. According to reports, some individuals allegedly admitted they had been invited to the venue and promised financial rewards despite not being registered members of the party. These claims further fueled concerns about the credibility of the primary election.
The crisis also coincided with disagreements over the party’s reported preference for consensus candidates in some contests. Political activist and ally of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, Aisha Yesufu, reportedly withdrew from one of the races amid claims that Mercy Pam had already been selected as the preferred consensus candidate before the process was concluded. The development intensified accusations that the primary election had been compromised.
The aggrieved aspirants maintained that they remain loyal to the party but insisted that failure to investigate the complaints and provide a transparent review of the exercise would leave them with no option but to approach the courts. They argued that political parties seeking public trust ahead of the 2027 general elections must first demonstrate commitment to fairness, transparency and democratic principles within their own structures.
As of Friday evening, May 29, 2026, party officials had yet to release a final consolidated list of candidates for all FCT House of Representatives constituencies. NDC authorities said consultations, appeals and internal reviews were still ongoing as efforts continue to resolve the disputes arising from the primaries.
Political analysts say the handling of the controversy could significantly affect public perception of the party as it attempts to position itself as a major opposition platform ahead of future elections. Stone Reporters note that internal party disputes over candidate selection have historically played a major role in weakening opposition coalitions in Nigeria, making the outcome of the NDC’s response particularly important.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments