…Denies candidate imposition, unveils framework behind nationwide exercise

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has dismissed 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, inclusive and firmly rooted in democratic principles.

In a statement issued late Thursday, the party said attempts to portray its primary elections as flawed were driven either by a misunderstanding of its constitutional procedures or by deliberate efforts to undermine a political movement whose influence is expanding rapidly across the country.

The statement, signed by the party’s National Secretary, Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu, described the primaries as one of the most organized exercises conducted by any political party in recent times, noting that extensive consultations and consensus-building helped minimize disputes and strengthen internal unity.

“The Nigeria Democratic Congress is built on the enduring values of leadership, consultation, inclusiveness and consensus,” Enekweizu said. “Our primary elections reflected these principles at every stage.”

Addressing concerns raised in some quarters, particularly in the South-East, he explained that the party adopted a decentralized approach that empowered respected political leaders and stakeholders in each state to coordinate consultations and recommend candidates based on local realities.

According to him, the South-East process was supervised by a team of prominent elder statesmen and political leaders, including former governors, ministers and national party officials who served as caucus heads in their respective states.

“These leaders were mandated to engage stakeholders, build consensus and guide the process in line with the peculiar political dynamics of their states,” he said.

Enekweizu stressed that consensus was never imposed on aspirants and that any contestant dissatisfied with stakeholder recommendations was free to seek validation through grassroots voting.

“Every aspirant who came to the NDC was given equal opportunity to participate. No candidate was imposed by the National Secretariat. Aspirants were encouraged to engage stakeholders and members at the grassroots, and where disagreements arose, democratic mechanisms were available to resolve them,” he stated.

The party also highlighted its commitment to gender inclusion through affirmative action policies aimed at encouraging more women to seek elective offices, while also providing support structures for serving lawmakers seeking to continue their legislative mandates.

While acknowledging reports of disputes arising from the exercise, the NDC said all complaints and appeals were promptly referred to the appropriate party organs for review and resolution.

The statement revealed that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) has already approved a comprehensive reconciliation programme to unite aspirants, party leaders and supporters ahead of the next phase of political engagement.

“We are committed to healing every grievance, strengthening party cohesion and ensuring that all members remain stakeholders in the collective project of building a better political alternative for Nigerians,” Enekweizu said.

He reiterated that throughout the nomination process, the National Secretariat maintained a neutral role, focusing on welcoming new members, providing administrative guidance and ensuring that all aspirants operated within established party guidelines.

According to him, the party’s emphasis on consultation, grassroots participation and respect for established leadership structures remains central to its vision of internal democracy.

The NDC, which received its certificate of registration on February 5, 2026, noted that within a remarkably short period it has established structures across the federation, convened two National Executive Committee meetings and successfully conducted nationwide primaries for major elective offices.