- Aspirants demand transparency, allege results’ manipulation
BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – Things are currently chaotic within the Imo State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) following allegations of fraudulent practices, hijack of materials and manipulation of the primaries process by aggrieved aspirants.
Accordingly, disgruntled aspirants are threatening legal action while also accusing the national leadership of auctioning off party structures for selfish and pecuniary gains
The controversy centers on alleged forged results, the sidelining of local chairmen, and backdoor deals in the party’s recently concluded primaries that has now thrown the Imo State chapter into deep turmoil ahead of the 2027 general election
One of the aggrieved aspirants and a former member of the House of Representatives, Uche Nwole, accused influential figures within the party of undermining internal democracy and compromising the primary election process.
Nwole, who described himself as a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said he joined the NDC because of its vision and leadership, expressing confidence in its presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Nwole said his decision to return to active politics was due to concerns over Nigeria’s democratic trajectory and the need to protect internal party democracy, but expressed unhappiness that the party’s internal process in Imo State had been compromised by powerful interests seeking to impose candidates and control party structures.
According to Nwole, who represented Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Federal Constituency between 1999 and 2003, a panel sent by the party headquarters to supervise the primaries was allegedly prevented from carrying out its assignment.
He further claimed the panel, led by Chief Babatunde Are, was influenced by a prominent party stakeholder and failed to properly supervise the exercise, leading to irregularities in the conduct of the primaries.
Offering insights into his allegations, Nwole said while aspirants mobilised for the exercise, the panel failed to appear at designated venues, forcing local government party officials to conduct and collate results which were later submitted through official channels, even as he also alleged that the results generated locally were rejected at the national level in favour of what he described as “parallel results.”
While questioning what he considered the growing influence of a single individual over the party’s affairs in Imo State, the former lawmaker warned that it could damage the party’s credibility and electoral prospects, adding: “We cannot allow democracy to be hijacked by any individual. Political parties must remain institutions governed by rules and collective decisions, not personal interests.”
He said only fairness, transparency, justice and credible internal processes would sustain confidence among members and the electorate, adding that their petition is challenging the party leadership to verify claims of structural control within the state chapter and ensure candidates emerge through a transparent process.
