Aggrieved aspirants of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Imo State have appealed to the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to intervene in what they described as the manipulation of the party’s National and State Assembly primaries in the state.

The aspirants, led by former House of Representatives member Dr Uche Nwole, alleged that vested interests hijacked the primaries and that the results eventually submitted to the party’s national headquarters did not result from any recognised electoral process.

Addressing journalists in Abuja while presenting a petition to the NDC Appeal Committee, Nwole said the intervention of Obi and Kwankwaso had become necessary to save the party from a crisis that could undermine its credibility and electoral fortunes in Imo State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Copies of the petition were addressed to the party’s National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson; National Chairman, Senator Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe; Obi and Kwankwaso.

The petition, jointly signed by Nwole, Barrister Charles Onyeagbako, Tony Okpe, Dr. Nworgu and Mr. Nwulu, accused the electoral panel deployed by the party’s national leadership of abandoning the primary election process and producing results outside the approved procedure.

According to the petitioners, members of the electoral panel, led by Chief Babatunde Ali, had assured aspirants and stakeholders at a meeting in Owerri that candidates would emerge either through consensus or direct primaries across the state’s wards.

They explained that when attempts to reach a consensus failed, aspirants returned to their various local government areas and mobilised supporters in preparation for direct primaries.

The aspirants, however, claimed that no member of the electoral panel or any designated returning officer appeared to conduct the exercise anywhere in the state.

“We mobilised and waited for the returning officers to conduct the direct primary and never saw a single soul throughout the night and early in the morning,” Nwole said.

According to the petitioners, local government party chairmen and executives eventually conducted the primaries, collated the results and transmitted them through the state party structure for onward submission to the national headquarters.

They alleged, however, that while party officials were conducting the exercise at the grassroots, members of the electoral panel relocated to the residence of a prominent politician in Emekuku, Owerri, where alternative results were allegedly prepared before being taken to Abuja.

The aspirants further claimed that members of the panel became unreachable during the exercise, allegedly switching off their telephone lines and avoiding contact with key party officials, including the state chairman and local government chairmen.

They also protested what they described as the attempted imposition of Barrister Uche Onyeagucha as a candidate, warning that such actions could alienate party members and damage the NDC’s chances in the state.

The petitioners further alleged that before the primaries, a party chieftain, Chief Martin Agbaso, had boasted that he had secured control of the party structure in Imo State and would determine who emerged as candidates for elective positions.

Urging Obi, Kwankwaso and other party leaders to urgently intervene, the aspirants called for a thorough investigation into the conduct of the primaries and the role played by the electoral panel.

They also appealed to the Appeal Committee to recognise only the results allegedly conducted by local government chairmen and party executives and reject what they described as “purported and forged” results submitted by the panel.

“The future of the party in Imo State depends on the credibility of this process,” the petitioners said, insisting that only candidates who emerge through transparent and democratic primaries should fly the party’s flag in the 2027 elections. (TRIBUNE)