“NDC On Fire: Aspirants Threaten Court Action As ‘Rigging, Bribery And Candidate Imposition’ Rock Primaries”
By Passman Akpos
Some aggrieved aspirants of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) seeking the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) House of Representatives ticket have threatened legal action against the party leadership over what they described as attempts to manipulate the primary process through secret consensus arrangements.
The aspirants, who spoke with AIT correspondent Funke Ogunlolu in Abuja, accused the leadership of abandoning an earlier agreement to conduct direct primaries and instead imposing candidates through closed-door negotiations.
They alleged that the leadership of the party, reportedly led by Senator Seriake Dickson, was pushing for consensus candidates without proper consultations, a move they said could destroy grassroots confidence in the party ahead of the elections.
Tension reportedly escalated at the ward level in parts of the FCT, especially at Kabusa Ward in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), where angry supporters and aggrieved voters were seen tearing their NDC membership cards during the House of Representatives primaries.
Party members further accused some NDC election officials of collecting inducements to influence delegates in favour of preferred aspirants, while some individuals allegedly admitted they were invited to impersonate party members in exchange for payment.
The crisis deepened amid controversy surrounding the party’s senatorial consensus arrangement, as a political ally of Peter Obi and a rights activist reportedly withdrew from the race following allegations that one Mercy Pam had already been secretly endorsed as the consensus candidate.
Party officials are yet to release a final consolidated list for all FCT constituency tickets, as internal appeals and reviews continue behind the scenes.
The latest controversy comes amid an already raging internal battle within the NDC following allegations of a fierce supremacy war between the camp of the party’s National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, and that of National Chairman, Senator Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe, over the Ekeremor Constituency 3 flagbearer position.
Sources alleged that the crisis has exposed deep cracks within the party, with claims of family influence, political manipulation, and backdoor deals threatening party unity.
According to insiders, Alex Jenakumo is reportedly related to Rachel Dickson, wife of Senator Seriake Dickson, while Hon. Johnbull Cleopas is said to be linked to the National Chairman, Senator Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe.
The source alleged that Rachel Dickson threw her influence behind Alex Jenakumo in an attempt to secure his emergence as the sole candidate of the party.
However, the alleged move reportedly triggered resistance from supporters of Hon. Johnbull Cleopas, leading to a bitter internal showdown between both camps.
The crisis reportedly reached a dramatic stage when both Alex Jenakumo and Hon. Johnbull Cleopas separately declared themselves winners of the primaries, each insisting they were the authentic flagbearer of the party.
Party insiders described the situation as “a battle between two powerful political camps,” with allegations that both the National Leader’s camp and the National Chairman’s camp were unwilling to back down.
The controversy reportedly began after aspirants purchased Expression of Interest Forms valued at One Million Naira each, only to later discover that the party leadership allegedly intended to allow only an adopted aspirant to proceed with nomination forms.
Sources further claimed that a closed-door meeting held on May 26, 2026, at the residence of Hon. Selekebina Saboh allegedly sought to pressure three aspirants — Hon. Stephen Imiemene, Barrister Torke Ekpetun, and Comrade Solomon Charles Ikpaka — to withdraw from the race.
Another meeting allegedly convened on May 27 by constituency leaders reportedly informed the aspirants that Senator Seriake Dickson wanted them out of the contest.
The three aspirants reportedly rejected the directive and staged a walkout, insisting that fairness and democratic principles must prevail.
Following the walkout, Hon. Johnbull Cleopas was allegedly declared winner of an internal voting process conducted by the remaining stakeholders.
However, a subsequent meeting involving Ekeremor Caucus leaders and party executives later resolved to adopt Alex Jenakumo as the party’s official flagbearer after extensive consultations.
The development has continued to spark outrage among party faithful, with fears that the growing allegations of imposition, family interference, and manipulation could plunge the NDC deeper into crisis ahead of the elections.
As of the time of filing this report, Senator Seriake Dickson, Senator Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe, Rachel Dickson, Alex Jenakumo, and Hon. Johnbull Cleopas had yet to publicly respond to the allegations.
