Maha Christopher
The Nigeria Democratic Congress has rejected allegations of irregularities and candidate imposition in its recently concluded presidential, governorship, National Assembly and state House of Assembly primaries, insisting that the process was transparent and guided by the party’s constitution.
According to The Punch, the party’s National Secretary, Morgan Enekweizu, made the clarification in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday.
Enekweizu described criticisms of the primaries as either a misunderstanding of the party’s internal procedures or deliberate attempts to discredit the NDC.
“The NDC, the fastest-growing political party in Nigeria, is founded on the principles of leadership, consultation, inclusiveness, and consensus-building,” he said.
The party secretary explained that the NDC adopted a consensus-driven approach designed to minimise disputes and strengthen unity among members.
Using the South East as an example, Enekweizu said the party relied on respected political leaders and caucus heads to coordinate consultations and build consensus among aspirants and stakeholders.
“In the South-East geopolitical zone, our presidential candidate, His Excellency Peter Obi, came into the party with an established leadership structure comprising respected elder statesmen and political leaders who serve as caucus heads in their respective states,” he stated.
According to him, aspirants who disagreed with recommendations made by stakeholders were given the opportunity to test their popularity through democratic processes at the grassroots level.
“At no time has the NDC national secretariat been involved in the business of picking, choosing, or imposing candidates on any constituency or state.
“Every aspirant who approached the party was received, attended to, and directed to engage with the appropriate caucus leaders, stakeholders, and grassroots members of the party in their respective states,” Enekweizu said.
He added that the party’s affirmative action policy had encouraged greater participation of women in elective offices while also protecting the interests of serving lawmakers.
The NDC spokesman acknowledged that some complaints had emerged following the primaries but said such issues had been addressed through the party’s appeal mechanisms.
“We are aware of reports that some aspirants prematurely declared themselves candidates, as well as complaints raised by others regarding aspects of the process. These issues have been brought to the attention of the Appeal Panel and the leadership of the party and have been addressed accordingly,” he said.
Enekweizu disclosed that the party would now begin a reconciliation process aimed at fostering unity among members and aspirants ahead of future political activities.
“As resolved at Wednesday’s NEC meeting, we now look forward to the commencement of a comprehensive reconciliation process,” he added.
The NDC received its certificate of registration on February 5, 2026, and has since conducted nationwide primaries while expanding its structures from ward level to the national level.
