The self-styled Chairman of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Enugu State, Dr Johnpaul Ani, has warned the national leadership of the party against fielding candidates that did not emerge through the state congress he conducted on May 29.

He was reacting to a list of candidates of the party issued by the NDC national leadership ahead of the 2027 general election.

Speaking in Enugu during a programme hosted by Enugu-based Dream FM, Ani said NDC might risk not participating in the 2027 general election in the state.

He said: “The primaries were held on May 29. We are praying the national leadership to accept the people that emerged. It is true that days after the primaries, some people allegedly went to Abuja to get party nominations. We had to approach the court to seek clarifications on whether somebody who did not emerge from valid monitored primaries could actually be a candidate of the party. It is an issue of the law. After the primaries, our candidates emerged, including our governorship candidate, Prof Ene Nwannaji.”

Ani said those who went to lobby the national leadership of the part in Abuja were those that were not happy with the outcome of the primaries. He said it was normal in politics, adding that he had pleaded to them to support the outcome to move the party forward in the state. (The Nation)