Some aspirants of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Imo State have alleged that the party’s National and State Assembly primaries were manipulated, accusing the electoral panel sent by the national leadership of failing to conduct a credible exercise and producing results outside the approved procedure.

The allegations were contained in a petition read during a press briefing in Abuja by a former member of the House of Representatives who represented Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Federal Constituency between 1999 and 2003, Dist. Rev. Dr. Uche Nwole.

The petition, signed by Nwole and other aggrieved aspirants, including Barrister Charles Onyeagbako, Tony Okpe, Dr. Nworgu and Mr. Nwulu, was addressed to the Chairman of the NDC Appeal Committee.

Copies were also sent to the National Leader of the party, Seriake Dickson; the Party Chairman, Senator Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe; the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi; and the vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

The aspirants alleged that the electoral panel, led by Chief Babatunde Ali, was compromised and influenced by a party chieftain to favour selected candidates in the exercise.

According to the Nwole who is seeking the ticket for Imo East Senatorial District, the panel had earlier informed aspirants during a meeting at the party secretariat in Owerri that the primaries would be conducted either through consensus or direct primaries across wards in the state.

Nwole said when the consensus arrangement failed, aspirants returned to their various local government areas to await the conduct of direct primaries, but the exercise was never held as scheduled.

“We mobilised and waited for the returning officers to conduct the direct primary, and we never saw a single member of the panel throughout the night and early morning,” he said.

The petitioners alleged that while no official electoral panel was present at the designated venues, local government party chairmen and executives proceeded to conduct the primaries, collated results, and forwarded same through the state structure to the national headquarters.

They claimed that members of the electoral panel were instead sighted at the residence of a political figure in Emekuku, Owerri, where alternative results were allegedly prepared and later transmitted to Abuja.

The aspirants also accused members of the panel of switching off their phones and avoiding contact with key party officials, including the state chairman and local government executives.

They described the alleged outcome as an “imposition,” warning that it could undermine the party’s chances in Imo State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
.
The petitioners urged the NDC Appeal Committee to investigate the allegations, determine whether due process was followed, and disregard what they described as “purported and forged” results submitted by the electoral panel.

They also called on the party leadership to recognise only results allegedly produced at the grassroots level and ensure a transparent resolution of the dispute.

The aspirants warned that failure to address the grievances could deepen internal divisions and weaken the party’s electoral prospects in the state.