Here’s a rewritten version with the same facts but a fresh structure and wording:
Tension has surfaced within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) after several aspirants from Enugu North Senatorial District rejected the party’s recently concluded primary election, alleging manipulation, fraud, and candidate imposition by party leaders.
In a press statement released on Thursday, the aggrieved aspirants, represented by Dr. Vincent Ege Obetta and Gideon Agbo, described the primaries reportedly held on May 26 and 29, 2026, as illegal, invalid, and devoid of internal democratic principles.
They argued that no genuine primary election was conducted anywhere in the senatorial district, insisting that the process was carefully orchestrated to favour selected candidates ahead of the upcoming Enugu North Senatorial bye-election.
According to the statement, neither a lawful direct primary nor a valid consensus arrangement involving all aspirants was carried out in line with the party’s constitution, guidelines, and the Electoral Act.
The aspirants maintained that what occurred was not a legitimate electoral exercise but rather a predetermined selection process that shut out party members, stakeholders, and contestants from meaningful participation.
They accused the Enugu State caucus leadership of masterminding the exercise, alleging that a list of preferred candidates had been prepared in advance to benefit certain individuals while other duly screened aspirants were unfairly sidelined despite their commitment and investment in the party.
The group specifically pointed fingers at the Enugu State caucus under the leadership of Okwesilieze Nwodo, claiming the outcome was influenced to favour predetermined candidates.
As a result, the aggrieved aspirants said they reject and do not recognise any candidate produced from the disputed primaries. They also vowed to boycott all campaigns and political activities linked to the process unless the party’s national leadership steps in.
They called on the party leadership to immediately nullify the disputed candidate list and organise a fresh, transparent, and credible primary election that would allow party members to freely choose their candidates.
The aspirants warned that failure to address the crisis before the June 20 Enugu North Senatorial bye-election and the buildup to the 2027 general elections could weaken the party’s grassroots mobilisation.
They stressed that loyal party members cannot be expected to campaign for candidates they neither elected nor accepted.
The group further appealed to key party figures, including Seriake Dickson, Peter Obi, National Chairman Chief Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe, and members of the National Working Committee, to urgently intervene and restore confidence in the party’s internal democratic process.
Describing their action as a stand against injustice, the aspirants said they would not support a system that undermines the rights and aspirations of party members at the grassroots.
