Politics
2027 Elections: Fresh Crisis Brews in NDC Over Alleged Candidate Imposition
Fresh controversy has erupted within the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) after the party’s South-East bloc accused its national leadership of attempting to impose candidates and delaying the release of outstanding primary election results ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group warned that any attempt to sideline candidates who emerged through transparent primaries could trigger internal unrest and weaken the party’s chances in the 2027 polls.
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Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Chairman of the NDC South-East in the Federal Capital Territory, Maxwell Igbokwe, called on the party leadership to uphold internal democracy and ensure that only candidates who won lawful primary elections are submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to him, the continued delay in releasing the results of some primaries conducted over two months ago has raised concerns among party members and could deepen divisions within the opposition party.
“We call on the leadership of our party to uphold the NDC constitution, respect the outcome of a transparent and lawful primary process, and ensure that no individual is imposed on the people,” Igbokwe said.
He alleged that the House of Representatives primary for the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency in the Federal Capital Territory had been manipulated, adding that recent developments suggested attempts to bypass the democratic process.
The South-East bloc also referenced public comments reportedly made by the party’s National Leader, Seriake Dickson, indicating that the House of Representatives ticket had been offered to activist Aisha Yesufu despite the fact that she neither purchased nomination forms nor declared interest in the contest.
The group further cited remarks allegedly made by the party’s National Secretary, Ikenna Enekweizu, claiming that the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, personally appealed to Yesufu to accept the nomination, but she declined.
Igbokwe maintained that the reported sequence of events raises serious concerns about the credibility of the party’s nomination process.
“Our findings raise further concerns. We have reason to believe the party’s national leadership has been attempting to substitute or impose a candidate outside the established democratic process.
“If allowed to stand, such actions would undermine the credibility of our party, erode members’ confidence and violate the principles of fairness and due process on which the NDC was founded,” he said.
He stressed that the group’s intervention was aimed at protecting the party’s integrity and called on the leadership to resolve all outstanding primary disputes before the party concludes its candidate nomination process.
The controversy comes as INEC has granted the NDC access to its candidate nomination portal, allowing the party to upload the names of candidates for the 2027 general election before the statutory deadlines.
Reacting to the allegations, the NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, dismissed claims of candidate imposition, insisting that the Electoral Act allows political parties to adopt consensus where necessary.
He argued that if irregularities are discovered after direct primaries, the party has the legal right to apply consensus in selecting its candidates.
Director also denied that the party had imposed any candidate, saying complaints from aggrieved members were being addressed fairly and that no confirmed case of candidate imposition had been brought to his attention.
He further dismissed claims that politicians who allegedly lost primaries were later included in the party’s list submitted to INEC, insisting that all issues were being handled in accordance with the party’s internal processes.
A Political Adviser to President Bola Tinubu, Ibrahim Kabiru Masari, has dismissed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s ambition to contest the 2027 presidential election, describing it as a joke.
Masari made the remark while addressing members of the Jigawa State Academics Forum.
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According to him, Atiku’s political ambition would not be achieved through what he described as desperation, insisting that the former vice president was aware of the situation.
“Even Atiku himself knows he is just joking and kidding,” Masari said.
The presidential aide also described the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the dominant political party in the country and framed the 2027 election as a choice between continuing the Tinubu administration’s programmes and returning to the opposition.
Masari highlighted infrastructure development, economic diversification, security and poverty reduction as areas the Tinubu administration was prioritising.
He also commended the Jigawa State Academics Forum for endorsing President Tinubu and Governor Umar Namadi for another term.
On education, Masari said the Federal Government was giving the sector priority, adding that the university academic calendar had stabilised and students were benefiting from federal student loans.
His comments come as political parties and opposition figures intensify preparations for the 2027 general election.
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be questioned if there were any irregularities in the conduct of the 2023 presidential election.
Sule made the remarks during an appearance on Mic On Podcast, hosted by Seun Okinbaloye, an Arise TV anchor, while responding to questions about allegations surrounding the 2023 presidential election and INEC’s handling of the process.
The governor noted that INEC was the body that conducted and declared the election, saying: “INEC declared that I won the election in 2023. INEC that determined the election.”
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Speaking about claims that both Labour Party’s Peter Obi and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar believed they won the 2023 presidential election, Sule questioned how the APC could have manipulated the election against both candidates.
He said: “So who won the election between Peter Obi and Atiku? Take President Asiwaju out. So who now rigged each other between the PDP and then the Labour Party? Because you are saying that Peter Obi said he won, Atiku said he won—”
On concerns over glitches on INEC’s Result Viewing (IReV) portal during the presidential election and allegations that “something fishy” may have happened, Sule said INEC should provide answers if there were any irregularities.
He stated: “Well, if something fishy went down, it is INEC herself that would be asked that question.”
Sule also referred to subsequent elections conducted under the current INEC leadership, including the Osun and Anambra governorship elections.
According to him, APC lost the Osun election without similar complaints, while the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) won in Anambra.
He said: “You know, and so far, all the elections… he held the election in Osun, and they didn’t say there was anything wrong with that one, because APC lost. We had an election in Anambra, there was no problem about that one, because APGA won.”
“You know, so it is anywhere APC won now that there is a problem. It doesn’t… life doesn’t work that way.” the governor added.
Human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take preventive measures to protect former Anambra State governor and 2027 presidential candidate Peter Obi.
Ejiofor raised concerns over Obi’s safety ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that any harm to the presidential candidate could have serious consequences for Nigeria’s political and democratic environment.
READ MORE: 2027: Peter Obi ‘Unfit’ To Govern Nigeria — Onanuga Declares
In a statement issued in Abuja, Ejiofor said Obi’s recent expression of concern about his personal safety should not be dismissed as ordinary political rhetoric.
He said when a presidential candidate publicly expresses uncertainty about his safety ahead of an election, the appropriate response should be “vigilance, sober inquiry and preventive action.”
“Nothing must happen to Obi,” Ejiofor said, calling on Tinubu to act now to protect the former Anambra governor and the democratic space.
The lawyer also cited recent developments surrounding the 2027 political season, including Obi’s complaints about difficulties faced by opposition politicians campaigning in some states and the controversy surrounding the obstruction of his convoy during a visit to Benue State.
According to Ejiofor, the circumstances require greater attention from government institutions, security agencies, political parties and other stakeholders.
He warned that if anything happened to Obi, the consequences could extend beyond the individual and potentially affect Nigeria’s already delicate electoral environment.
“If anything should happen to Peter Obi—God forbid!—the consequences would extend far beyond the individual concerned,” he said, describing the possible consequences as “disastrous and devastating.”
Ejiofor urged the Federal Government, security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political parties and state authorities to ensure that presidential candidates can campaign peacefully and that voters can freely hear competing political views.
He also called for political disagreements to be settled through the ballot and the law rather than intimidation, coercion or violence.
“Prevention is wiser than mourning,” Ejiofor said, stressing that Nigeria should not wait for a tragedy before taking steps to address concerns surrounding the 2027 political environment.
He further appealed for an electoral atmosphere where every legitimate contestant can campaign, political parties can organise peacefully and citizens can freely listen to and support candidates of their choice.
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