On Wednesday, the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) primary election process, which everyone questioned about the credibility, was brought into the limelight with expressions of increased transparency and fairness from the voters and aspirants.
A video that was shared from the main venue shows visibly angry party stakeholders raising strong concerns about parts of the electoral process, demanding that the electoral exercise is done in a democratic, equity and accountability manner.
The demonstrators, who were talking with reporters at the site, said that every aspirant should have a level playing field and party officials should have a duty to make sure the results of the primaries reflect the will of the party members.
The development reflects the increasing concern in the party to go through a crucial moment in its internal election process. The mood around the primaries has grown to be a crucial litmus test for the party’s dedication to democratic principles and unity for many participants.
The atmosphere was electric at the event, with stakeholders reporting high levels of emotion, which they believe could lead to disaffection among members and a lack of trust in the party’s leadership if a perception of unfairness arises.
Political commentators stated that primary elections are still one of the most volatile political issues in Nigeria’s political landscape, with the ability to create splits within the party, acceptance of candidates and electoral fortunes before major elections.
They said the processes should be transparent and inclusive and are becoming a must for political parties to show credibility and trustworthiness among its members.
As demands for greater openness grew louder, focus was now turning to the party officials and electoral committees that should be able to respond to the concerns expressed by participants and assuage the fears of party members that the exercise was being conducted with integrity.
The NDC primary was so controversial because it was a very expensive game of who-knows-what inside the party, and is a reminder that the legitimacy of any electoral process starts with Trust in the process by those participating.
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