The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has moved to resolve the disputes that trailed its recent primaries in some states, especially Kano and Edo states.

Yesterday, the opposition party constituted a seven-member committee to engage aggrieved aspirants, stakeholders and party officials in a bid to restore unity within its fold. The Prof. Pat Utomi and Buba Galadima-led committee will be inaugurated in Abuja.

The committee, chaired by a political economist, Prof. Pat Utomi, is expected to engage aggrieved aspirants, stakeholders and party officials in a bid to restore unity within the party.

The party also raised three zonal sub-committees for the North, Southeast and Southsouth to complement the work of the national committee.

The development is contained in a statement by the NDC National Chairman, Senator Cleopas Moses, and National Secretary, Ikenna Enekweizu.

The other members of the national committee are Mohammed Sani Takori, vice chairman; Babatunde Alli secretary; Dudu Manuga, Salvador Moshood and Alhaji Haruna Pai.

North’s Sub-Committee is headed by Mainasara Abubakar with Fatima Abba as secretary. Other members are Solomon Ndah, Tanko Yusufu and Toma Gana.

The Southeast Sub-Committee is chaired by Senator Victor Umeh, with Patrick Akwara as secretary. Its members include Eze Chikamnayo, Patrick Chukwudi, Isaac Anumudu and Stefiny Eugene.

That of the Southsouth is led by Senator Ben Birabi with Senator Clever Ikisikpo as secretary. Bishop Isaac Idahosa, Esther Archibong and Apostle David Okpon are members.

According to the party, the committees are expected to reconcile aggrieved members and promote cohesion, with particular emphasis on ensuring that members support the party’s candidates at all levels.

The committees are also mandated to meet and interact with all stakeholders, aspirants, aggrieved members and party officials as part of efforts to address grievances arising from the primaries.

In Edo, an NDC leader and former Chief Whip of the Senate, Rowland Owie, protested the emergence of Epelle- Osayuki as candidate of the party for Edo South senatorial district

Owie said he was angry and disappointed over the decision of the party to pick Osayuki as its candidate. He stated that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal had the picture and name of Sunny Aguebor as the senatorial candidate.

He accused a national officer of the party of being responsible for the misplacement.

According to him, “The truth is, fraud cannot stand. The duly nominated candidate for Edo South NDC is Sunny Aguebor.

“His primary election was monitored by INEC; we have the CTC of his nomination from INEC.

“The party uploaded the information to INEC. What they were trying to do was to put that lady’s name, but they couldn’t remove Aguebor’s picture.

“Whoever did it is a criminal; it is because we want peace in the party. Otherwise, such a person should have been arrested. It is a criminal act.

“The NDC is a corrective party; we can’t be part of fraud.’’

Another aggrieved top member, Senator Rufai Hanga, resigned from the party, citing denial of political opportunities and consultations with his constituents by the party’s national leadership.

Hanga, who represents Kano Central in the Senate, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). He was a New Nigerian Peoples Party Senator before moving to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where he left and joined former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso in the NDC.

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He said: “After these developments, I returned home and discussed with my constituents. “They advised me to take a decision that would benefit them.” (The Nation)