The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is currently grappling with intensifying internal friction following its nationwide primary elections held on May 29. Designed to prepare the party for the 2027 general elections, the primaries have instead sparked widespread disputes over candidate selection, delayed results, and allegations of manipulation, threatening to stall the opposition party’s rapid political momentum.
Delayed Results and Whispers of Manipulation
Trouble began brewing shortly after the primaries. Although the NDC’s National Executive Committee announced it had ratified and approved the outcomes of the elections just a week after they concluded, the official results have yet to be formally published. This delay has triggered a wave of skepticism, mistrust, and public disagreements among key party stakeholders nationwide.
Adding fuel to the fire, unofficial lists of purported winners have begun circulating on various social media platforms. The unauthorized publications have led to panic and accusations that influential party leaders are attempting to secretly alter the democratic outcomes of the primaries.
Regional Power Struggles: Kano and the South-East
The friction is particularly acute in Kano State, which has emerged as a major flashpoint. A bitter power struggle has erupted between legacy NDC officials and members of the ‘Kwankwasiya Movement’ loyalists of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the former Kano State Governor and NDC’s vice-presidential candidate. Legacy members accuse Kwankwaso’s faction of hijacking the nomination process to dominate the party’s structure in the state.
Meanwhile, in the South-East, the party is facing backlash from the ‘Obidient Movement’ faction. Aspirants in the region have openly protested what they describe as unfair treatment. Many allege they were manipulated into paying millions of Naira for nomination forms under false pretenses, in direct violation of the national leadership’s official guidelines.
Party Leadership Calls for Calm and Denies Candidate Lists
In an effort to manage the escalating crisis, the national leadership of the NDC has firmly denied releasing any official candidate lists for Kano State or any other region. In a public statement, NDC National Spokesperson Osas Director urged party faithful and the general public to completely disregard any unofficial results currently in circulation.
The party’s statement followed a closed-door reconciliation meeting in Kano, aimed at bridging the gap between legacy members and the Kwankwasiya faction. The peace talks were brokered by the NDC National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, alongside other high-ranking national officers, in a bid to restore internal democracy and foster inclusion.
“The NDC leadership will not impose candidates in Kano State or anywhere else in the country,” Osas Director asserted. He described the talks as highly productive and expressed strong optimism that the lingering grievances would be resolved harmoniously through dialogue.