Confusion Deepens in NDC as Delayed Primary Results Fuel Crisis

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) is facing growing controversy and uncertainty after failing to announce the official results of its nationwide primaries days after the exercise was concluded.
The party held its primaries across the country on May 28 and 29 to select candidates for the 2027 general elections. However, the continued delay in releasing the results has triggered widespread speculation, anxiety among aspirants, and allegations of internal manipulation.
Although the NDC leadership has urged members to disregard results circulating on social media, insisting that only the National Executive Council (NEC) can officially declare winners, many party stakeholders remain uneasy.
Several aspirants are reportedly camped in Abuja, closely monitoring developments amid fears that the outcome of the primaries could be altered. Critics within the party have accused the leadership of attempting to overturn the will of members by introducing a controversial “selection committee” after the elections had already been conducted.
One aggrieved party official warned that replacing candidates who emerged victorious at the polls could plunge the NDC into a wave of lawsuits and internal rebellion, arguing that the process now resembles the disputed primaries often criticized in rival parties.
The tension is particularly evident in states where aspirants insist they won convincingly and are demanding that the party respect the mandate given by delegates. In Anambra, House of Assembly aspirant Chinedu Raymond Obue urged the NDC to uphold what he described as a transparent and credible victory, warning against any attempt to tamper with the results.
Despite the growing controversy, some candidates remain confident. Enugu governorship aspirant Prof. James Ene-Nwannaji, who claims to have won his primary election, said he is not worried by the delay, insisting that the exercise was conducted in line with electoral guidelines and monitored by INEC.
As party members await the official announcement, political observers say the way the NDC handles the crisis could determine whether it emerges as a credible alternative force ahead of 2027 or becomes engulfed in the same internal disputes that have troubled Nigeria’s major political parties.