Abia NDC Faces New Crisis as Primary Election Committee Chair Submits Candidates List to INEC Without Party Approval

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

A new crisis may be emerging within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) after the chairman of its primary election committee, Chief Asukewe Ikoawaji, submitted a list of candidates for the governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly primaries in Abia State directly to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The move has raised concerns among party members and legal observers, who warn that it could spark internal disputes and question whether the nomination and submission procedures were properly followed.

According to documents obtained by journalists, Ikoawaji, who chaired the NDC Primary Election Committee for Abia State, wrote to the Chairman of INEC through the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Abia State on 30 May 2026, sending what he described as the outcome of the party’s primaries held the day before.

The letter, titled “The Outcome of the NDC Primary Election in Abia State,” stated that results from all local government areas and constituencies had been collated and finalized at the party’s state headquarters on Nsukka Street in Umuahia.

It said the collation was witnessed by an INEC official named Mrs. Chioma, security personnel, members of the election committee and party officials.

“I hereby forward the election result of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Primary Election held on 29/05/2026 in all the Local Government Areas and Constituencies in Abia State and the final collation result at the Party Headquarters, No. 2 Nsukka Street, Umuahia,” the letter read.

Ikoawaji also informed the commission that the results had been transmitted to the party’s national headquarters in Abuja in accordance with the constitution. He attached copies of the notification of election committee members, election guidelines and election results, requesting that the commission take the necessary action.

In a separate letter addressed to the REC, the committee chairman sought to correct what he described as errors in an earlier list of members of the governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly electoral committee that had been submitted to the commission.

The letter identified him as the sole electoral and returning officer for the primaries held across the state’s 17 local government areas on 29 May 2026, and stated that the revised submission superseded all previous lists forwarded to INEC concerning the conduct of the primaries.

The action has caused controversy within the party, with critics arguing that the authority to formally communicate and submit the names of nominated candidates to INEC rests with the party’s national leadership, particularly the national chairman and national secretary.

Party insiders warn that if the list submitted by the committee chairman differs from any eventual submission by the national leadership, the situation could lead to legal battles and deepen existing divisions within the NDC ahead of the election season.

Political observers note that the incident could test the party’s internal dispute‑resolution mechanisms and may attract regulatory scrutiny if questions arise over the validity of the nomination process.

At the time of filing this report, neither the national leadership of the NDC nor INEC had issued an official statement on the matter. Efforts to obtain reactions from key actors involved were unsuccessful.