Abia NDC Faces Fresh Crisis as Primary Election Chair Submits Candidates' List Directly to INEC

A potential crisis is unfolding within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Abia State. The chairman of the party's primary election committee, Chief Asukewe Ikoawaji, has submitted a list of candidates directly to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), bypassing established party leadership.

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The Outcome of the NDC Primary Election in Abia State

This move has sparked concern among party stakeholders and legal experts, who fear it could trigger internal disputes and cast doubt on the proper procedures for nominating candidates. Documents show Ikoawaji wrote to the INEC Chairman on May 30, 2026, forwarding the results of primaries held the previous day. He claimed the results from all local government areas and constituencies were collated and finalized at the party's state headquarters.

Ikoawaji stated that the collation process was witnessed by an INEC official, security personnel, election committee members, and party officials. He also informed the electoral commission that the results had been transmitted to the NDC's national headquarters in Abuja, as required by the party's constitution. He attached relevant documents, including committee member notifications, guidelines, and election results, requesting INEC's action.

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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.

Adding to the controversy, Ikoawaji also sent a separate letter to the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Abia State seeking to amend an earlier submitted list of committee members. In this correspondence, he identified himself as the sole electoral and returning officer for the primaries conducted across the state's 17 local government areas on May 29, 2026. This revised submission, he indicated, supersedes all previous lists sent to INEC regarding the primaries.

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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.