Outrage Trails Chaotic NDC Aba South Primaries Amid Violence, Vote-Buying Allegations

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) primaries for the Aba South State Assembly and Aba South/Aba North Federal House of Representatives seats ended in chaos on Friday at the Aba Recreation Club, triggering widespread criticism over allegations of violence, vote-buying, and electoral malpractice.

The exercise, which was expected to produce candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections, reportedly descended into confusion and disorder, forcing electoral officials to abandon the venue without announcing any official results.

Witnesses alleged that the primary was infiltrated by individuals who were not registered members of the party. According to several attendees, groups described as political thugs and hired supporters were present at the venue and allegedly sought to influence the outcome of the exercise.

Tensions escalated when delegates were asked to queue behind their preferred aspirants as part of the voting process. What began as an orderly exercise quickly degenerated into chaos, with attendees scrambling for safety as the situation spiraled out of control.

The disruption effectively brought the exercise to an abrupt end. However, the controversy deepened afterward as multiple aspirants reportedly declared themselves winners despite the absence of an official announcement from party authorities.

Allegations of vote-buying also surfaced, with witnesses claiming that cash was distributed to delegates before and during the exercise. While these allegations have not been independently verified, they have fueled public concern about the credibility of the primary process.

Adding to the debate, Barrister Emperor Ogbonna, an aspirant for the Aba Central State Assembly seat, criticized the conduct of the exercise in a social media post. He alleged that some aspirants misunderstood the nature of the primary and imported non-card-carrying supporters from outside the party structure, contributing to the breakdown of order.

Political observers have also raised concerns about possible external interference in the Aba South primaries, warning that such developments could undermine confidence in the party’s internal democratic processes.

The fallout from the disrupted exercise has drawn condemnation from residents, party supporters, and political analysts. Many argue that how the NDC resolves the controversy surrounding the Aba South primaries will significantly influence public perception of the party as it prepares for the 2027 general elections.

The incident has generated outrage among residents, party faithful, and political analysts, many of whom believe the NDC’s response to the controversy will play a significant role in shaping public confidence in the party ahead of the 2027 elections.