Some 2027 general elections aspirants of the Nigeria Democratic Congress in Enugu State, Thursday, threatened to resort to legal actions over alleged financial extortions on them during the party’s primary processes.
They stated their position in a communique issued on Thursday under the auspices of the Forum of Aspirants. Some of the aggrieved aspirants are Dr SKC Ogbonnia, Hon Joseph Udedi, Engr Eze Izuchukwu Alex, Hon Felix Chijindu Uzodinma, Engr Agu Cyprian Ifeanyi, and Barr Obiajulu Uja.
They claimed that the Enugu State chapter of the NDC deviated from the party’s founding ideals of electoral integrity, democratic principles and zero tolerance for corruption. They subsequently passed a vote of no confidence on four party state leaders, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, Gen Fidelis Azinta (retd), Mr John Nwokeabia and Chief Mathias Omeh.
According to the forum, their mission to NDC was to join forces with the party’s presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, and his vice, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso, in their quest for a Nigerian rebirth.
The aspirants alleged that no direct primaries were conducted in Enugu State, adding that there was “absolutely no attempt to engage in consensus building”, which, they said, are the two methods permitted by the Electoral Act of 2026 for nominating candidates.
The communique read, “The Enugu State NDC cannot, and must not, nominate any candidates for upcoming elections without meeting these legal requirements. Proceeding to submit names under the current circumstances constitutes a flagrant disregard for extant laws.”
They accused individuals grandstanding as leaders of the party in the state of subjecting aspirants to extensive and massive financial extortion.
They claimed that, “This structural corruption is completely destroying the ‘zero-corruption’ pillar upon which our movement was built.”
They called on Mr Peter Obi to intervene. “Charity must begin at home. His appointees and designated leaders in the Southeast, particularly in Enugu State, have failed the party miserably. Mr Obi must not spare these individuals or overlook their excesses if he wishes to save the party from total collapse in the zone.”
They warned against imposing candidates, citing the recent Enugu North Senatorial election where they said the NDC candidate polled 3,000 votes while the APC candidate got 162,000 votes.
“This embarrassing outing is the direct and undeniable consequence of imposing unpopular, unvetted candidates on the electorate while bypassing internal democracy,” they said.
The aspirants said that all internal party mechanisms had been exhausted with silence and defiance as the response, noting that court action might be the next option.
“We will not hesitate to explore every available legal option to challenge the illegalities in the Enugu State NDC. There are gross violations of the Electoral Act of 2026 and the massive extortion of aspirants.”
