The NDC says it will hold fresh congresses to replace defecting candidates, alleging the APC used financial and political incentives to lure them.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has announced plans to conduct fresh congresses to replace candidates, who have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that the development would not derail its preparations for the 2027 general election.
The party, in a statement in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said it would immediately begin the process of electing new candidates in the affected constituencies.
The NDC alleged that some of its candidates had been induced to defect to the APC through financial offers, political appointments and other material incentives.
It, however, did not identify the affected candidates or provide details of the alleged inducements.
Describing the defections as a setback that would not undermine its political objectives, the party said those who had left lacked the ideological commitment and values it expected of its members.
Part of the statement read: “For those who have fallen for this bait, it is clear that they lack the values, virtues, and ideological commitment associated with our great party. They were never truly of us.
“To them, we say good riddance to bad rubbish, and we wish them luck in their political misadventures.”
The NDC maintained that its response to the defections would be guided by the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, under which it said it would conduct fresh congresses to select replacements for the affected constituencies.
The party also urged its members, supporters and Nigerians sympathetic to its political agenda not to be discouraged by the development.
“We wish to reassure our teeming party members, supporters, and well-meaning Nigerians not to be perturbed by the antics of the ruling party in bribing a few of our members,” it stated.
