Some aggrieved aspirants for Saturday’s Enugu North Senatorial district bye-election on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) have rejected the primary election of the party.
This is contained in a press statement jointly signed by Dr Vincent Obetta, Esq. and Barrister Okay Agbo, on behalf of “Concerned ADC Aspirants” for Enugu North Senatorial zone released to newsmen on Thursday in Enugu.
The statement reads: “We, on behalf of ourselves and our other aggrieved aspirants of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) from Enugu North Senatorial District, hereby reject in its entirety the purported primary election of 26th and 29th May, 2026, through which candidates were produced for Enugu North and other positions in Enugu State.
“We state unequivocally that no valid direct primary election was conducted in any electoral ward and no lawful consensus process involving concerned aspirants took place as required by the Constitution of the Party, the Party Guidelines, and the Electoral Act, 2026 and the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“What occurred was not a primary exercise but the imposition of candidates through a process that excluded aspirants, stakeholders, and party members from meaningful participation.
“We are particularly disturbed that lists of candidates appear to have been prepared and submitted through the influence of the Enugu State Caucus Leadership under the leadership of His Excellency Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo for the benefit of predetermined individuals, while duly screened aspirants who invested time, resources, and commitment in the party and the primaries were totally ignored.
“Accordingly, we hereby declare that we do not recognise or endorse any candidate or candidates and shall not participate in any process, campaign, or political activity arising from the purported primaries until the National Leadership of the NDC intervenes and addresses the genuine grievances arising from the exercise.”
The aspirants subsequently demanded the quick intervention of the the national leadership of the party over the mater or risk boycott of the party’s future activities.
“We respectfully demand that the National Leadership immediately set aside and void any candidate list produced through the disputed process and organise a transparent, credible, and verifiable democratic exercise in Enugu State.
“This is to allow party members are allowed to freely choose their candidates through direct voting or any other lawful process recognised by the party Constitution, Guidelines and the Electoral Act, 2026 and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, ” they stated.
According to them, the future of the NDC in Enugu State cannot be built on “imposition, exclusion, and the suppression of internal democracy.
According to the statement: “NDC must choose between the will of its members and the will of a few privileged individuals acting outside recognised party structures.
“Our Presidential Candidate has been campaigning for a free, fair and transparent election whose foundation starts with a free, fair and transparent primaries and we hold that as the minimum as defined by our relevant laws.
“The NDC was also founded on the principles of justice, fairness, participation and democracy; it is therefore unacceptable that those entrusted with leadership responsibilities have ironically become the greatest threat to the democratic survival of the party in Enugu State.
“We cannot in all honesty posit that general election of 2027 cannot and will not be rigged, while at the same time encouraging a rigged, invalid and unlawful primary election of the party on 26th and 29th May, 2026. “
“We therefore, call upon the National Leader of the Party, Senator Seriake Dickson; the Presidential Candidate, Mr. Gregory Peter Obi; the National Chairman, Chief Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe; the National Working Committee and all well meaning members not to allow an organ of the party that only exists in the South East destroy the foundation of our great party and to urgently intervene and restore confidence in the party.
“Let it be clearly understood that unless a transparent and credible process is conducted, the national leadership should not expect meaningful mobilisation, enthusiasm, or effective political campaigning in the forthcoming Enugu North Senatorial bye-election slated for 20th June, 2026, as well as the 2027 General Elections.”
They said that NDC loyalists cannot be expected to campaign for candidates they neither elected nor recognise.
“Our position is simple: investigate the source of the list, void the disputed list if found to have failed to adhere to the laws of the land, conduct a thoroughly transparent vote, allow the members to decide who will fly their flags, and restore the democratic ideals upon which the NDC was founded, ” the aspirants stated.
