NDC Crisis: Edo South Aggrieved Members Reject Reconciliation C'mtte, Demand Return of ‘Stolen Mandates’

Aggrieved members of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) in Edo South Senatorial District have rejected the party’s National Reconciliation Committee, describing it as a “charade” designed to manage dissent rather than address the alleged injustices arising from its controversial primary elections.

In a statement issued by Agbonaye Osazee Ofo on behalf of the aggrieved members, the group insisted that “a stolen mandate cannot be reconciled away,” arguing that the creation of a committee cannot make a disputed process legitimate.

The members questioned who was being reconciled and on what terms, saying reconciliation must begin with justice, truth and a credible review of the disputed primaries.

“A reconciliation committee cannot become a substitute for justice. It cannot be used to paper over disputed primaries, silence legitimate grievances, or compel aggrieved members to accept outcomes they firmly believe were imposed upon them,” the statement said.

The group alleged that the committee was constituted not to heal wounds but to pressure aggrieved members into accepting disputed outcomes.

“This panel was never assembled to heal wounds; it was deployed to enforce compliance,” they alleged, warning that genuine reconciliation cannot be achieved by asking those who feel betrayed to surrender their mandates in the name of party unity.

The aggrieved members also questioned the NDC leadership’s professed commitment to internal democracy, fairness, inclusiveness and cohesion.

“Where were these principles when the disputed primaries were conducted?” they asked, demanding that the party reopen contentious issues, hear all sides and restore mandates where evidence establishes wrongdoing.

They said the credibility of the committee would depend not on the personalities appointed to it, but on whether it has the independence and authority to examine primary-election records, challenge questionable decisions and recommend corrective measures.

The statement acknowledged the experience of committee members, including Prof. Pat Utomi and Engr. Buba Galadima, but stressed that respected personalities alone cannot transform an allegedly flawed process into a legitimate one.

The group further warned the NDC against portraying members demanding justice as threats to party unity.

“The real threat to party unity is a system that tells a legitimately aggrieved member: ‘Accept what happened or be accused of destroying the party,’” they said, insisting that members have the right to question primary results and demand transparency without intimidation.

With the 2027 elections approaching, the aggrieved members said the NDC must resolve its internal contradictions before asking Nigerians to trust it as a democratic alternative.

“You cannot preach democracy to the electorate while asking your own members to accept disputed outcomes without a credible remedy,” the statement said.

They urged the reconciliation committee to begin with the facts: review the disputed primaries, hear competing claims, examine the evidence, apply party rules equally and recommend the reversal of illegitimate outcomes where necessary.

Anything less, they warned, would amount to “political theatre” and public relations rather than genuine reconciliation.

The group therefore demanded justice before reconciliation, truth before unity and democracy before electoral expediency, insisting that genuine party unity would come from restoring mandates where they were wrongfully denied—not from forcing aggrieved members to accept disputed outcomes.

“A stolen mandate cannot be reconciled away. A disputed election cannot be wished away, and injustice cannot become legitimate simply because a committee has been established to manage the anger it created,” they declared.