Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
ABUJA, Nigeria – A group of concerned youths from Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State staged a peaceful protest at the National Democratic Coalition headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, demanding that the party leadership ensure transparency, fairness and credibility in the selection of candidates for the 2027 general elections. The protesters, who carried placards with inscriptions calling for internal democracy, warned that the imposition of unpopular candidates could damage the party’s electoral fortunes in the zone and alienate a substantial voting bloc that has already transferred its allegiance from the Labour Party to the NDC.
Speaking on behalf of the group, convener Ejiribeofor Omeke told journalists that the demonstration was aimed at protecting the interests of both the party and the people of Nsukka. He disclosed that a large section of the support base that previously backed the Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has now aligned with the NDC, and that these supporters expect the party to honour their commitment by fielding candidates who enjoy genuine grassroots acceptance. “Our protest is in the interest of the NDC in Nsukka Local Government. We are passionate supporters of the party in Nsukka,” Omeke said. He noted that the recent primaries held at St. Theresa Secondary School in Nsukka did not meet expectations of transparency and credibility, leaving party members uncertain about the process.
The youth leader expressed concern that the party’s failure to conduct proper primaries in Nsukka could undermine its chances in future elections, especially given the formidable competition from incumbent officeholders. “What the people of Nsukka are asking for is simple: give us the right candidates. Do not present unpopular candidates. Give us candidates who are grounded, widely accepted and capable of fighting for the interests of Nsukka,” Omeke said. He argued that candidates must have strong grassroots support and not appear to be imposed by party leadership. According to him, the NDC needs candidates who can mobilise voters and contribute to the victory of Peter Obi and the party at all levels.
The protest reflects deeper anxiety within the NDC’s emerging political base in Enugu State. The group recalled the painful experience of Labour Party candidates who were elected but later defected to the ruling party, a betrayal that the youths said Nsukka voters are determined not to repeat. “The youths of Nsukka are determined not to allow such a situation to repeat itself. We need candidates who can not only win elections for themselves but also mobilise support that will contribute significantly to the victory of Mr Peter Obi and our party at all levels,” the group said in an open letter addressed to NDC National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, and presidential candidate Peter Obi, members of the party’s National Working Committee, and its Enugu State leadership.
The Nsukka zone occupies a strategically vital place in Enugu State’s political geography, accounting for an estimated 56 per cent of the state’s voting population. The zone includes six local government areas – Nsukka, Igbo-Eze North, Igbo-Eze South, Udenu, Igbo-Etiti, and Uzo-Uwani – and has historically produced strong electoral outcomes for candidates who command genuine grassroots loyalty. Political observers note that the zone’s voters have demonstrated a capacity to resist imposed candidates, as seen in the 2023 general elections when opposition parties recorded strong performances there despite the financial and institutional advantages of the ruling party.
The NDC, which was officially registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission in February 2026, has rapidly positioned itself as a leading opposition platform ahead of the 2027 elections. The party has attracted high-profile defections, including the presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Vice‑Presidential candidate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. However, the party has also faced growing internal tensions over candidate selection, a challenge that is now surfacing in multiple states.
Earlier on Tuesday, it was reported that the NDC replaced some candidates nominated by the Kwankwasiyya political movement in Kano State as part of an effort to enforce a 60‑40 power‑sharing agreement, a decision that reportedly angered Senator Kwankwaso and threatened party cohesion. In Anambra State, the party’s primaries have placed Peter Obi under intense pressure, as grassroots-backed aspirants displaced several established political figures. In Imo State, fresh controversy has trailed the NDC primaries for the Nkwerre/Isu/Nwangele/Njaba Federal Constituency.
The Nsukka protest is not an isolated event. Two weeks earlier, on May 27, House of Representatives aspirants and stakeholders from the zone had issued a communiqué warning the NDC leadership against any attempt to impose candidates, insisting that internal democracy, transparency, and fairness must guide the emergence of candidates for the three House of Representatives seats in the zone. The aspirants warned that “any unpopular imposition in Nsukka Zone could have grave electoral consequences for the party” and that the people of Nsukka would resist every form of political imposition.
The protesters maintained that they were not backing any particular aspirant but were advocating a transparent process that would produce candidates with proven grassroots support and political capacity. Omeke noted that the NDC would face formidable opposition from incumbents, and therefore needed candidates who can mobilise voters and win elections. “The challenge is that we will be contesting against individuals who are already occupying political positions. Therefore, we need candidates who have strong public acceptance and grassroots backing,” he said. The group warned that supporters would challenge any process perceived as unfair or lacking transparency through all lawful means available.
Neither the NDC national leadership nor Peter Obi had issued an official response to the protest as of Tuesday evening. The party’s Enugu State chairman could not be reached for comment. The protest occurred just one day after the NDC’s national leadership held a consultative meeting with political parties in Abuja, during which INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan warned that legal challenges to the 2027 election timetable posed a threat to the commission’s ability to conduct a smooth electoral process.
For the people of Nsukka, the protest represents a warning to a party that has inherited the hopes of a generation of voters who feel betrayed by past political defections. The NDC may have secured the allegiance of Peter Obi’s supporters, but those supporters have made it clear that their loyalty is conditional. If the NDC fails to field candidates who are seen as authentic representatives of the community, the protest suggests, those voters could just as easily walk away again.
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