Tension has reportedly emerged in the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) primary elections in Bende following allegations that election materials and members of the primary election committee were diverted by a House of Assembly aspirant for Bende South Constituency, Mr. Emeka Philip.
Party members and aspirants in the area have expressed concern over the development, describing it as a serious challenge to the credibility and transparency of the party’s internal democratic process.
Speaking to journalists, one of the aspirants, Mr. Ikpechukwu Emeka Loveday, alleged that he witnessed circumstances surrounding the diversion of election materials and committee members. He described the situation as regrettable, stating that he joined the NDC with the belief that the party represented a new political order founded on fairness, transparency, and democratic values.
“It is not about me; it is about the systemic disenfranchisement of thousands of Bende people who came out to choose their preferred candidates in the elections,” he said.
Mr. Loveday called on the national leadership of the party to urgently intervene and investigate the allegations to ensure that the integrity of the primary election process is protected.
As of the time of filing this report, the individuals mentioned in the allegations had not publicly responded, and the party leadership had not issued an official statement regarding the matter.
