Politics
NDC’s primaries had flaws- Dickson admits
Senator Seriake Dickson has appealed for patience and understanding among aspirants of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) following complaints over alleged irregularities in the party’s recently concluded primaries.
In a post on X after an interview with Arise Television, Dickson acknowledged that the exercise was not without flaws but urged aggrieved aspirants to consider the challenges facing the relatively new political party.
According to him, the NDC, which is barely four months old, had been compelled to conduct membership registration, congresses, a national convention, primaries, appeal processes and reconciliation efforts within a limited electoral timeframe.
He argued that the difficulties encountered by the party were not unique, noting that even more established political parties had faced similar challenges.
Dickson blamed the situation partly on provisions of the Electoral Act mandating direct primaries, maintaining that complaints about irregularities in such exercises had become widespread across political parties.
“The APC-led majority were wrong in foisting compulsory direct primaries on political parties and the country,” he said, adding that the issues arising from the process were “not peculiar to the NDC.”
The former Bayelsa State governor said that despite its limited lifespan and the large number of aspirants involved, the NDC had performed creditably in managing the exercise.
He disclosed that since the party’s formation, he had been working to strengthen internal confidence while welcoming prominent politicians into its fold. Following the primaries, he said he had been engaging stakeholders across the country to address grievances and disagreements.
Dickson also dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that winners had emerged from the party’s primaries, insisting that no official announcement had been made by the NDC.
He urged members of the public to disregard unofficial claims and await formal communication from the party through the appropriate channels.
“The results of party primaries are not announced like school results; they are communicated through formal channels,” he stated.
The senator revealed that the party’s second National Executive Committee meeting had already approved the establishment of a Reconciliation Committee to work with state caucus leaders and other stakeholders in resolving disputes arising from the primaries.
He assured party members that future primary elections would be improved through the adoption of technology.
“This is our first set of primaries, and it will also be the last to be conducted manually. The next primaries will be technologically driven and will have none of these issues,” he said.
Dickson expressed appreciation to party supporters for their financial contributions and sacrifices, noting that the NDC was entirely self-funded and did not have the advantage of incumbency.
He reaffirmed the party’s commitment to the success of its presidential ticket, comprising former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Calling for unity, Dickson urged members and supporters to avoid internal conflicts and rally behind all candidates of the party, from the presidential level to other elective positions.
He further called on state leaders and stakeholders who supervised the primaries to take responsibility for the reconciliation process, stressing that many of the candidates emerged through recommendations from local party structures rather than the national leadership.
“It is not a time to shift blames or dodge responsibilities,” he said, urging party leaders to work collectively to strengthen the ND
C ahead of future electoral contests.
By Philippine Duru
philippineobetoduru@gmail.com
08034905774
A prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Princewill Dike, has declared that Ikwerre Local Government Area will be a difficult political terrain for former Minister of Transportation and African Democratic Congress (ADC) Vice-Presidential Candidate, Chibuike Amaechi, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Dike, a lawyer and human rights activist, said Amaechi should not expect an easy political battle in Ikwerre or other parts of Rivers State, arguing that the state’s political dynamics had changed significantly.
He made the assertion on Saturday in a commentary posted on his Facebook page, Princewill Dike Platform.
According to him, Amaechi was fully aware of the political realities in Ikwerre and Rivers State and should therefore not anticipate an easy victory in the 2027 elections.
“Amaechi is fully aware of the political realities in Ikwerre and Rivers State, and should not expect an easy victory in the state during the next general elections,” Dike said.
The APC chieftain argued that Amaechi’s past political influence and access to federal structures did not translate into electoral victory in Rivers, questioning what would be different in 2027.
He said the emergence of former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had significantly altered the political calculations in the state, particularly regarding federal influence and grassroots political structures.
“Whether Amaechi, who could not secure victory despite enjoying considerable federal backing in the past, will now be able to defeat the political structure associated with Wike remains doubtful,” he said.
Dike described Ikwerre as a particularly challenging battleground for Amaechi, stressing that the political realities on the ground should not be underestimated by anyone preparing for the 2027 elections.
He also predicted the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027 and expressed confidence in the electoral prospects of the Rivers political coalition linked to the FCT Minister.
“Amaechi, who couldn’t win with his federal might, battalion of soldiers and INEC in his beck and call, is it now that the political wonder boy of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, is in charge of the federal might and everything incidental thereto, that he (Amaechi) will win? Abeg, tell me something else jari?” Dike asked.
Quoting from the Scriptures, the APC leader added: “What seest thou? I see P-BAT re-elected, OK Chinda and all the Rivers coalition candidates elected.”
Dike, who is also a philanthropist, maintained that the political tide was already taking shape in Rivers State, saying the strength of emerging alliances and grassroots structures would play a decisive role in determining the outcome of the 2027 elections.
By Philippine Duru
philippineobetoduru@gmail.com
08034905774
A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alubarika, has projected that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will lead the 2027 presidential election in four of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, while former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi are expected to dominate the North-East and South-East respectively.
Alubarika made the projection in a post on his verified X handle, formerly Twitter, where he assessed the likely performance of the major contenders based on what he described as his political experience, grassroots engagement and understanding of Nigeria’s electoral dynamics.
According to his projection, Tinubu would secure 50 per cent of the vote in the North Central, compared with 25 per cent for Atiku, 20 per cent for Obi and five per cent for other candidates.
The North Central zone comprises Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory.
In the North-East, however, Alubarika predicted an advantage for Atiku, giving the former vice president 50 per cent, against 40 per cent for Tinubu. Obi and other candidates were each projected to secure five per cent.
The North-East comprises Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe states.
In the North-West, Alubarika again placed Tinubu ahead with 50 per cent, followed by Atiku with 30 per cent, Obi with 15 per cent and other candidates with five per cent.
For the South-East, the APC chieftain predicted a strong showing for Obi, projecting him to win 50 per cent of the vote. Tinubu was placed at 35 per cent, Atiku at 10 per cent and other candidates at five per cent.
Obi, who is the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), is expected to draw significant support from the region.
Alubarika also projected a 50 per cent share for Tinubu in the South-South, compared with 25 per cent for Obi, 20 per cent for Atiku and five per cent for other candidates.
The South-West recorded Tinubu’s highest projected performance, with Alubarika putting the incumbent president at 69 per cent. Obi was projected at 15 per cent, Atiku at 10 per cent and other candidates at six per cent.
Explaining his assessment, Alubarika said he believed the projection was about 75 per cent accurate, while acknowledging that political dynamics could change considerably before the election.
“Politics is never an exact science, and a lot can change before 2027,” he said.
He urged Nigerians and political observers to keep his prediction and compare it with the actual results after the election.
“When the votes are counted and the dust settles, come back and give me my flowers,” he wrote.
The projection is not based on an opinion poll or official electoral data but represents Alubarika’s personal assessment of the likely voting pattern ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
With the election still ahead, political alliances, party structures, candidate nominations, regional dynamics, economic conditions and other emerging issues could alter the current political calculations.
By Philippine Duru
philippineobetoduru@gmail.com
08034905774
Former Bayelsa State Governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that he can no longer identify with the party.
Sylva announced his decision in a letter dated August 31, 2026, in which he expressed concerns over the direction of the party and the conduct of its leadership.
The former governor accused the APC leadership of promoting the notion that “all is fair in politics,” arguing that the principle had contributed to practices he said were inconsistent with the values he expected from the party.
He also criticised the performance of the Federal Government, expressing dissatisfaction with what he described as shortcomings under the APC-led administration.
Describing the APC as a “floundering ship,” Sylva said his continued association with the party was no longer tenable.
The former petroleum minister also copied the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the letter, alleging that the anti-graft agency was increasingly being used as an instrument of the APC.
Sylva’s resignation comes amid heightened political activity ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, with defections and realignments increasingly shaping the country’s political landscape.
His departure could have political implications in Bayelsa and the wider South-South region, where he remains a prominent figure in the APC and Nigerian politics.
The development is expected to trigger further reactions within the party as political actors continue to reposition themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.
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