Politics
NDC primaries: Peter Obi faces intense pressure in Anambra, other states
The outcome of the recently concluded Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, primaries in Anambra and some other states has placed the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, under political pressure, DAILY POST has learnt.
It was gathered that during the primary election held on Friday, a wave of grassroots-backed aspirants reportedly displaced several established political figures across key constituencies and senatorial districts.
The development is said to have kept the party leadership at the national level in a tight corner over the handling of the primary election outcome.
Among those reported to have secured the party’s tickets are Ifeanyi Iwuchukwu for Onitsha North/South Federal Constituency, Eric Ayamene for Idemili North/South Federal Constituency, Ofumelu Vincent Ekene for Oyi/Ayamelum Federal Constituency, Udekaigbo Chibuzo, PhD, for Ihiala Federal Constituency, Chief Ebuka Onunkwo for Anambra South Senatorial District, and Pastor Nonso Nwabueze Oli for Anambra Central Senatorial District.
In Anambra North Senatorial District, Senator Tony Nwoye reportedly emerged unopposed.
The biggest political shock from the exercise, however, remains the reported defeat of incumbent Senator Victor Umeh in the contest for the Anambra Central Senatorial ticket, a development that has triggered intense discussions within the party and across the state.
Political insiders said the emergence of the new candidates has unsettled parts of the party establishment, with some displaced stakeholders now looking toward Obi and the national leadership of the NDC as the ratification process draws closer.
The development has consequently thrust Obi into what many party faithful described as a defining moment for both his leadership and the credibility of the party’s internal democratic process.
Across Anambra and beyond, attention is increasingly focused on whether the final ratification of candidates will faithfully reflect the outcome of the primaries or whether pressure from influential political interests could alter the grassroots verdict.
Critics, however, contend that any perceived attempt to overturn or dilute the outcome of the primaries could undermine the image that has distinguished him from many of his political contemporaries.
“The emergence of the new crop of candidates has transformed the Anambra primaries from a routine party exercise into a broader test of the NDC’s commitment to internal democracy.
“The issue has gone beyond who won or lost. What is now at stake is the credibility of the process itself and how the party leadership responds to the outcome,” a party leader in Awka, Peter Anaenugwu told our correspondent.
As the NDC prepares to conclude its ratification process, political tension continues to build within the state chapter of the party.
For many observers, the coming days will not only determine the fate of the victorious aspirants but could also shape public perception of Peter Obi’s commitment to the democratic ideals he has consistently championed.
Days ago, the National Secretary of the Party, Barr Ikenna Morgan disclosed that only the National Leadership of the party had the power to make a final pronouncement on the candidates of the party.
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Three members of the House of Representatives have dumped their various parties for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, while presiding over the House disclosed that that Shehu Dalhatu, representing Faskari/Kankara/Sabuwa Federal Constituency of Katsina State, dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, for the PDP.
In his letter of defection, Dalhatu said he resolved to join the PDP after careful consideration of the issues in the APC and having consulted with his constituencies.
Another House member from Delta State, Etanabene Benedict, on his part, left the Labour Party for the PDP, attributing his move to the crisis in the Labour Party in the state.
Also, the member representing Yakurr/Abi constituency in Cross River state, Alex Egbona, dumped the APC for the PDP, noting, however, that his commitment to the House and his constituency remains unshakeable.
DAILY POST had earlier reported that six Oyo PDP lawmakers at the green chamber defected to the Allied Peoples Movement, APM.
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Former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu, has reacted to the defection of Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Odinkalu, in a post on X on Tuesday, described the development as “organized crime,” insisting that no court ruling could justify the circumstances surrounding Chinda’s move to the ruling party.
His reaction comes amid controversy surrounding the announcement by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, that Chinda had defected from the PDP to the APC.
The Speaker, during plenary on Tuesday, read a letter notifying the House of Chinda’s defection.
However, the letter was dated April 23, 2026.
The development comes after Chinda had already emerged as the APC governorship candidate in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 election.
Following the announcement of his defection, Chinda resigned his position as Minority Leader of the House.
Reacting, Odinkalu noted that Chinda was selected as the APC governorship candidate for Rivers State while he was still serving as Minority Leader on the platform of the PDP.
According to him, efforts may be made to legitimise the situation through the courts, but he maintained that the circumstances surrounding the defection could not be justified.
DAILY POST reports that Chinda is currently facing a lawsuit over allegations that his defection from the PDP to the APC did not follow due process.
The House of Representatives is expected to elect a new Minority Leader following his resignation.
He wrote: “Today, the speaker of @HouseNGR has announced the defection of my good friend, @OKChinda, from @OfficialPDPNig to @OfficialAPCNg.
“It is claimed he also now ceases to be #MinorityLeader of the House. They back-dated the letter of notification to 23 April.
“Last month, while still the Minority Leader of the House, Chinda was selected to be the candidate of the ruling @OfficialAPCNg for governorship of Rivers State in #NigeriaDecides2027.
“I am sure they have lined up their #FullyOwned judges to make this look kosher with a suitable court order. But no amount of #CourtWashing can clean this up. It is #OrganizedCrime. Period!”
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Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Tuesday expressed distress over the recent kidnapping of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.
Makinde noted that this is not the time to cast blames on the governor of the state or President Bola Tinubu, stressing that Nigerians should unite in the fight against insecurity.
The governor spoke during a peaceful protest led by the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, the Trade Union Congress, TUC, and the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, at the his office in Ibadan.
“This is a time of national distress. It is not the time to trade blames. It is not the time to play politics. I am personally distressed. My own father was a primary school teacher. He actually taught at Awole Dada, less than 15 kilometres away from where this incident happened. My father was there in 1959 and 1960. If something like this had happened to him, maybe I wouldn’t even have been born,” he said.
The governor insisted that the tragedy should not become a platform for political finger-pointing, stressing that the challenge of insecurity requires a united response.
“This is not the time for us to say it is the President that should have handled this, or it is the Governor, or the local government. This is a time to pull together as one,” he said.
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