What began as a routine political realignment in Enugu State has now exploded into a public accusation of fraud.
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has accused the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) of running what he described as a deeply compromised and exploitative primary process.
His words were not measured. They were sharp, direct, and unapologetic.
According to him, what happened inside the party was not democracy — but a transaction gone wrong.
Aspirants Speak of “Payments Before Tickets”
Okonkwo said the controversy began after some politicians who left the ADC for the NDC in Enugu State reached out to him after the party’s primaries.
What they allegedly described painted a troubling picture.
House of Representatives aspirants, he claimed, were asked to make additional payments after official nomination fees were settled.
For senatorial aspirants, the alleged demands were even higher.
And according to him, many complied — hoping it would secure their chances.
But what followed, he said, shocked them.
“They Paid, But Still Failed” — A Claim That Sparked Anger
Okonkwo alleged that despite meeting the financial demands, some aspirants were still denied tickets after the process was concluded.
That, he said, was the breaking point.
The aspirants, according to him, felt cheated, silenced, and politically stranded after investing heavily in the primaries.
In his telling, the system did not just fail them — it betrayed them.
A Strong Verdict: “Greatest Fraud in Politics”
From frustration to full condemnation, Okonkwo did not hold back.
He described the NDC as what he called “the greatest fraud” in Nigeria’s political space, insisting the allegations raised by the affected aspirants revealed a deeper credibility problem within the party.
For him, the issue was no longer just about individual complaints — but about a pattern that questions the integrity of the process itself.
Silence From the NDC as Questions Grow
While the accusations continue to circulate, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has yet to officially respond to the claims.
That silence has only added more weight to the controversy, allowing political observers and party members to speculate on what truly transpired behind closed doors.
A Familiar Nigerian Political Story
For many Nigerians, the story feels familiar — allegations of money-driven primaries, disputed tickets, and internal party battles that rarely make it into official records.
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As the 2027 political season gradually takes shape, incidents like this continue to raise questions about internal democracy and transparency within emerging political platforms.
And once again, the spotlight returns to a simple but uncomfortable question: How are party candidates really chosen in Nigeria?