By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA — Tension is rising within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Kogi State after a purported list of candidates for the 2027 general elections began circulating online ahead of the release of official screening results and before the party primaries.

The development has fuelled fears among aspirants that the outcome of the exercise may already have been decided before the primaries, with complaints of poor communication, lack of transparency and alleged breaches of internal democratic procedures deepening anxiety within the party.

The concerns were raised in a letter by Buhari Omolori Sani, an aspirant for the House of Representatives seat representing Okene/Magongo Federal Constituency, and addressed to PDP National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed.

In the letter, Omolori urged the party’s national leadership to urgently intervene and restore confidence in the process.

Omolori said, “Surprisingly, while no official screening outcome has been communicated and the primaries themselves have not been conducted, a list of candidates is already circulating online.

“This development has naturally created confusion, tension, and widespread suspicion among aspirants, party supporters, and observers.”

He said some aspirants who purchased nomination forms, fulfilled party requirements and participated in the screening exercise were allegedly absent from the list already circulating online.

He warned that if the circulating list eventually proves authentic, it could damage confidence in the party’s internal democratic process.

“If this information eventually proves accurate, it would amount to a serious affront to internal democracy and a dangerous signal about the future of fairness within our party.

“Every qualified party member should have an equal opportunity to contest and contribute to the democratic process without obstruction, discrimination, or manipulation,” he said.

The House of Representatives aspirant further accused party officials of poor communication during the screening process, saying he was not officially informed when the screening venue was moved from Abuja to Lokoja.

According to him, he only became aware of the change after contacting the Kogi State PDP Chairman, Hon. Sani Gambo, forcing him to make an emergency trip to Lokoja.

“Sadly, the rush and pressure associated with this unexpected development led to an accident along the road, an experience that could have been avoided entirely if proper information and coordination had been provided by the party,” he said.

Omolori also questioned how the party intended to conduct primaries without first releasing the screening results and allowing aspirants to utilise the appeal process provided under party rules.

According to him, “Even more concerning is the question of due process. If the primaries are to be conducted today while screening results have not officially been released, then what happens to the mandatory 24-hour appeal window available to aspirants after screening?

“What also becomes of the 48-hour response period expected within the appeal process?”

With less than 24 hours to the primaries, Omolori said aspirants still had no clear information about how the exercise would be conducted.

Omolori said, “At this critical stage, everyone seems to be operating in the dark, uncertain about the process, the rules, and what to expect.

“What kind of democratic process are we building within our own party? What example are we setting for Nigerians who expect political parties to uphold transparency, orderliness, equal opportunity, and justice?”