The political atmosphere in Rivers State has reached a fever pitch following the conclusion of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship primaries, with the national leadership of the party withholding the official declaration of the results.
The primary, which saw oil magnate Dumo Lulu-Briggs and Blessing Fubara the brother of the incumbent Governor, Siminalayi Fubara compete for the party’s ticket, has left party faithful in a state of high anxiety. According to reports collated on the ground, Lulu-Briggs secured a landslide victory; however, the expected announcement of his candidacy has been stalled.
Internal Friction and "Wait and See" Strategy
A party insider, speaking under the condition of anonymity, confirmed that local collation officials were instructed to transmit the results directly to the party’s national headquarters in Abuja rather than announcing them locally.
"We were not allowed to announce the result after the collation in Rivers State," the source revealed. "We were asked to transmit it to the national headquarters and wait for the decision of the national leadership. Going by the results we collated, Dumo Lulu-Briggs scored significantly more votes. For now, we must wait for the national body to speak."
The delay has reportedly fueled internal friction, with supporters of both camps actively lobbying for their respective principals. While the Lulu-Briggs camp remains confident in their overwhelming lead, sources suggest that pro-Fubara elements are mounting a counter-push at the national level to influence the final outcome.
Focus on 2027
Amidst the uncertainty, party leaders are urging members to maintain calm and remain focused on the broader goal of the 2027 general elections. The NDC, which was formed earlier this year, is keen to avoid early internal fracturing that could jeopardize its electoral prospects in the state.
When contacted for an official statement, state-level party representatives deferred all questions to the National Working Committee (NWC), stating that only the national leadership holds the mandate to finalize and announce the winner of the gubernatorial ticket.
As the city of Port Harcourt watches closely, the silence from Abuja continues to spark speculation about the party's next move and what this means for the evolving political landscape in Rivers State.
Stay tuned to PORTHARCOURTBLOG as we continue to track this developing story and bring you the latest updates on the NDC governorship ticket.
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