The Co-Chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress National Reconciliation Committee, Engr. Buba Galadima, has alleged that the 2026 Electoral Act Amendment was designed by the Presidency to make it difficult for opposition political parties to produce candidates without internal crises.
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Galadima made the allegation on Thursday in Abuja during the inauguration of the NDC National Reconciliation Committee, a body set up by the party to address grievances arising from its recently concluded primaries and promote unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
His remarks came a day after the party announced the constitution of a seven-member reconciliation committee chaired by renowned political economist, Prof. Pat Utomi, with Galadima serving as Co-Chairman.
Speaking at the inauguration, Galadima said the current provisions of the Electoral Act had made it difficult for opposition parties to conduct candidate selection processes without rancour.
“Just before the primaries, a committee of aspirants held a meeting at Chelsea Hotel and invited me as one of the guest speakers. I looked at all the aspirants and told them that these primaries would not be done according to democratic norms and that they could not get justice,” he said.
According to him, “The Electoral Act that was contrived will never allow justice nor democracy. If it were left to me, I would have ceded the powers to the party to choose whoever it wants without acrimony. Unfortunately, the law says there must be processes.
“The process of producing candidates in the Electoral Act is such that it is impossible for any opposition party to, without rancour, bring out candidates. Direct primaries in our setting are impossible for any opposition party to conduct.”
Galadima further alleged that the law was deliberately structured by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to protect the ruling party and weaken the capacity of other political parties to present candidates.
“The Electoral Act was designed and perfected even before it was taken to the National Assembly by the President. He was only protecting himself and protecting his party and making it difficult for other parties to produce candidates,” he alleged.
He claimed that Tinubu’s political calculation was to avoid a serious contest in the 2027 presidential election.
“As I speak to you, Tinubu is not thinking of a contest or competition with any person. That is his hope, but we will never allow it to happen.
“I have said before that even if it is an empty coffin contesting against Tinubu, all parties and Nigerians must come together and throw him out for the sake of this country,” Galadima added.
He, however, expressed confidence that the reconciliation committee would succeed in persuading aggrieved aspirants to place national interest and party unity above personal ambitions.
“We will be resolute, patriotic and make sure we persuade all those who feel aggrieved to look at the larger picture of Nigeria rather than individual ambition,” he said.
Earlier, the Chairman of the committee, Prof. Pat Utomi, described the assignment as humbling and challenging, saying Nigeria’s future depends on the ability of political actors to overcome divisions and work for the collective good.
Utomi lamented what he described as growing narcissism in the country’s political space, saying it had undermined the African tradition of communal progress and shared prosperity.
“The tendency to focus on self, this narcissism that is eating up our political space, has prevented us from remembering who we are as Africans. We all have the possibility of thriving because the collective thrives,” he said.
He urged aggrieved aspirants and party members to embrace reconciliation, insisting that personal disappointment should not be allowed to derail the broader objective of building a better Nigeria.
“People have been hurt in different ways, but the greater good will profit you just as it profits those who may be temporary winners.
“Together, we can bake a bigger cake that can lift our country and ultimately our continent out of where it is. We owe it to our children and to this continent for Nigeria to become the leader it is destined to be,” Utomi said.
He also disclosed that he was involved in developing the party’s manifesto and policy framework, noting that the NDC intended to position itself as a future-focused party driven largely by the aspirations of young Nigerians.
Utomi said with Nigeria’s median age at about 19.5 years, the country’s future depends on empowering its young population to become global champions.
“This party is going to be a party of the future focused on the young people of this country. We have to envision a future in which they are all global champions.
“There is nobody who has entered this process that will not have a place in building this great Nigeria. Some who may not have received nominations today may become even greater champions tomorrow,” he said.
The NDC had on Wednesday announced the establishment of the National Reconciliation Committee to address complaints arising from its primaries.
In a statement jointly signed by the National Chairman, Senator Cleopas Moses, and National Secretary, Mr. Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu, the party said the committee would engage aspirants and stakeholders nationwide to resolve outstanding disputes and strengthen party cohesion.
Apart from Utomi and Galadima, members of the committee include Mohammed Sanni Takori as Vice Chairman, Babatunde Alli as Secretary, Mrs. Dudu Mamman Manuga, Hon. Salvador Adegoke Moshood and Alhaji Haruna Pai.
The party also constituted three zonal sub-committees for the North, South-South and South-East geopolitical zones as part of efforts to ensure a comprehensive reconciliation process across the federation.
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