The crisis rocking the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Plateau State has deepened, with Middle Belt political stakeholders calling on the party’s national leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, to intervene in the controversy surrounding its governorship ticket.

The stakeholders, under the aegis of the Middle Belt Young Political Stakeholders (MBYPS), alleged that some individuals were working to displace the party’s governorship candidate, Da Jonathan Sunday Akuns, through a fresh primary election.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja at the weekend, the group’s President and Secretary, Gaius Shekwolo and Abdullahi Iliya, respectively, urged Dickson to intervene and prevent what they described as an attempt to undermine the outcome of the party’s initial governorship primary.

According to them, Akuns emerged unopposed at the NDC direct governorship primary conducted on May 29, 2026, and should not be subjected to another primary or substituted after the party had completed the process.

The group described the reported plan for a fresh governorship primary as unwarranted, alleging that it was part of a broader effort to remove the candidate who emerged as the sole aspirant in the initial exercise.

The stakeholders also questioned the rationale for another primary after the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms had reportedly been concluded, warning that producing a different candidate could expose the party to legal and electoral challenges.

“We heard that an influential political leader in the state doled out large sums of money to some NDC leaders to set the groundwork for possible disqualification of the party for the February 2027 governorship election in the state,” the group alleged.

They urged the NDC leadership to ensure that all internal processes complied with the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), warning that any breach could result in litigation capable of jeopardising the party’s participation in the election.

The stakeholders recalled the experience of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections, arguing that political parties should avoid actions capable of triggering judicial intervention after elections.

“Plateau State should not be a guinea pig for political merchandising that robs voters of the power to elect their leaders. NDC should fish out those building the foundation for another judicial intervention in the electoral process due to breach of the INEC guidelines,” they said.

The group also questioned why the NDC would sell expression of interest and nomination forms to a candidate, conduct a direct primary that produced an unopposed winner and subsequently contemplate another exercise.

“You cannot rescue Nigeria or effectively fight corruption by encouraging electoral manipulation and politics of imposition,” the stakeholders stated, asking the party to explain the circumstances surrounding the reported attempt to replace Akuns.

They said the controversy was particularly disturbing because of Plateau State’s strategic importance to the political aspirations of the Middle Belt.

According to them, the region was making efforts to build greater political unity to address its socio-economic and political challenges, adding that internal political manoeuvring could undermine those efforts.

Recalling the political experience of the Middle Belt under the PDP, the stakeholders said the region had suffered from divisions and poor political choices and should not repeat similar mistakes.

“It is painful that the leadership which the Middle Belt provided during the PDP era was allowed to go to waste,” they said, expressing concern over what they described as an attempt to manipulate the replacement of an NDC governorship candidate who emerged unopposed.

The group described Plateau State as an “arrowhead of Middle Belt political renaissance,” insisting that developments capable of weakening opposition politics in the state should be resisted.

The stakeholders further alleged that some political actors might be interested in weakening opposition parties ahead of the 2027 governorship election, although they did not provide independent evidence to substantiate the claim.

They therefore appealed to Dickson to intervene in the dispute, protect the integrity of the NDC’s internal democratic process and ensure that any further action by the party complies with applicable electoral laws and INEC regulations.

They also urged the NDC leadership to resolve the controversy through dialogue and due process, warning that internal disputes over the governorship ticket could damage the party’s prospects in Plateau State ahead of the 2027 election.