Crisis hits NDC over Imo primaries
Crisis Erupts in Nigeria Democratic Congress Over Imo Primaries
By Henry Umoru
ABUJA — A significant dispute has arisen within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) following allegations of manipulation during the party’s primaries in Imo State in preparation for the 2027 elections.
Uche Nwole, a former member of the House of Representatives, has accused influential party leaders of undermining internal democracy and compromising the integrity of the primary election process.
Nwole, who served as the representative for Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Federal Constituency from 1999 to 2003, stated he felt compelled to return to politics out of concern for Nigeria’s democratic future and the necessity of safeguarding internal party democracy.
In a press conference in Abuja, Nwole, a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), explained that he joined the NDC due to its vision and leadership, expressing support for the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi. However, he contended that the primary process in Imo State had been unduly influenced by powerful interests aiming to control candidate selection and party operations.
Nwole asserted that a supervising panel dispatched from the party’s headquarters, led by Chief Babatunde Are, was allegedly obstructed from executing its duties. According to him, the panel was swayed by a prominent party figure, failing to oversee the primaries adequately, which resulted in irregularities.
He claimed that, while aspirants prepared for the primaries, the supervising panel did not appear at designated locations, compelling local party officials to manage and report results through official channels. Ultimately, he alleged that the results generated locally were dismissed at the national level in favor of “parallel results.”
Concerns were raised regarding the growing influence of a single individual over the party’s operations in Imo State, with Nwole warning that this could damage the party’s credibility and electoral viability.
“We cannot allow democracy to be hijacked by any individual,” he stated. “Political parties must remain governed by rules and collective decisions, not personal interests.”
Nwole revealed that he and other aspirants have submitted a petition to the party’s national leadership, requesting a review of the primaries and clarity regarding the legitimacy of the results. He urged the leadership to investigate the situation, ensure compliance with due process, and address the grievances of the aspirants.
Failure to resolve the ongoing crisis, he warned, could erode public confidence in the party’s commitment to internal democracy.
Nwole emphasized that his involvement is aimed at fortifying the party and maintaining its political relevance ahead of the 2027 elections. He called for fairness, transparency, and justice, asserting that credible internal processes are essential for sustaining trust among members and voters.
In excerpts from the petition, Nwole and other stakeholders claimed that there was no adequately supervised primary election in Imo State, accusing the national panel of failing to meet its obligations. They reported that local party executives took control of the process in the absence of the supervisory panel, leading to disputed results and conflicting submissions to the national secretariat.
The petition also urged party leadership to investigate claims of structural control within the state chapter, emphasizing the need for candidates to emerge through a transparent process.
