The Nigeria Democratic Congress has set up a seven-member national reconciliation committee headed by political economist Prof Pat Utomi and veteran politician Buba Galadima to settle disputes from its recent primary elections.
The opposition party said the panel would engage aggrieved aspirants across the country and resolve outstanding grievances ahead of the 2027 general elections, amid a growing number of court cases challenging the primary outcomes.
In a joint statement on Wednesday, NDC National Chairman Senator Moses Cleopas and National Secretary Ikenna Enekweizu announced the committee’s inauguration at the party’s national secretariat.
“The Nigeria Democratic Congress has set up a national reconciliation committee to meet with all the aspirants across the nation and resolve all the outstanding challenges arising from the party primaries,” the statement said.
Utomi will serve as chairman, Galadima as co-chairman, Mohammed Takori as vice chairman and Babatunde Alli as secretary. Other members are Mrs Dudu Mamman Manuga, Salvador Moshood and Haruna Pai.
Three zonal sub-committees will also operate in the North, South-East and South-South. The northern panel is chaired by Mainasara Abubakar, the South-East by Victor Umeh and the South-South by Ben Birabi.
Candidates whose names appeared on the Independent National Electoral Commission list praised National Leader Seriake Dickson for helping ease post-primary tensions.
Nkechi Nwaogu, NDC candidate for Abia Central Senatorial District, said: “The National Leader, Seriake Dickson, deserves accolades for the way he navigated the trying times that the primaries, reconciliations and the nomination of candidates were finally concluded. Nobody is perfect, but he acted in the interest of our party, NDC.”
She urged unsuccessful aspirants to remain with the party and work for its success in 2027.
