The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has released the list of members of its electoral committees to conduct primaries for State House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship and presidential elections across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

The list, which was released on Thursday via the party’s official X handle, covers all six geopolitical zones of the country.

In the South-East, Chief Asukewe Ikoawaji was named chairman of the Abia State committee, while Prof. Osita Ogbu will head the Anambra State committee. Dr. Peter Onigah was appointed chairman for Ebonyi State, Chief Teddy Obey for Enugu State, and Comrade Babatunde Ali for Imo State.

For the South-South zone, Barr. Fredrick Owotorufa was appointed chairman of the Edo State committee, while Dr. Osusu Osusu will head the Rivers State committee. Other chairmen announced for the zone include Dr. Clement Agiangie for Akwa Ibom, Engr. Biokpo Awara for Bayelsa, Iliya Kwajafa for Cross River, and Dr. Kabiru Umoru for Delta State.

In the South-West, Alhaji Sidi Abdul Bomi was named chairman of the Lagos State committee, while Akinlade Olagoke, Barr. Ojeh Jimmy, Hon. Babatunde Daodu, Hon. Oladejo Yinka and Comrade Adeolu Adewuyi will chair the committees in Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo states respectively.

For the North-Central zone, Jenkins Gwede will chair the Benue committee, while CP Ezebuike Peter (Rtd) will head Kogi State. Dr. Okey Ezeala was appointed chairman for Nasarawa State, Hon. Richard Adams for Niger State, and Dr. Pabara Igwele for Plateau State. Chief Barnabas J. Ejisi will head the FCT committee.

In the North-East, Williams Lappi was named chairman for Adamawa State, while Mr. Ande Karma, Comrade Mustafa Ali, Nura Abdulrazak, Barr. Umar Hassan and Alhaji Mohammed Sawa were appointed to lead the committees in Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe states respectively.

For the North-West zone, Tasiu Safiyanu Liman will chair the Jigawa State committee, while Balarabe Ayuba will head Kaduna State. Mainasara Sani Abubakar was appointed chairman for Kano State, Suleiman Aliyu Baba for Katsina State, Saidu Jalo Bakuwai for Kebbi State, Bello Labaran Gwadabawa for Sokoto State, and Bashar Muhammed Marafa for Zamfara State.

The party said the committees will oversee the conduct of its primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.

OTUKPO – Former Benue State Commissioner for Finance, Dr. David Olofu, has emerged as the African Democratic Congress senatorial flagbearer for Benue South Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Dr. Olofu emerged as the consensus candidate of the party following primaries conducted across the nine local government areas of the district. His candidature was formally affirmed in Otukpo on Sunday.

Declaring the result, the ADC Returning Officer, Barr. Ogah Ekwu, said Dr. Olofu satisfied all constitutional requirements of the party and was unanimously endorsed across the zone.

“Dr. Olofu, having met all the requirements of the constitution of the party, is hereby returned as the sole candidate and duly elected ADC senatorial candidate for Benue South,” Ekwu stated.

In his acceptance remarks, Dr. Olofu described his emergence as a collective victory for the people of Benue South. He pledged to run an inclusive leadership that accommodates every interest and stakeholder in the district.

He stated that representation for the zone “shall no longer be a one-man show,” and announced plans to establish a “Benue South People’s Assembly” and a “Benue South People’s Council” to deepen consultation, unity, and collective decision-making.

The former commissioner said the protection of lives and communities would be his top priority if elected, noting that insecurity had continued to cripple the agricultural strength and economic potential of the district.

“As outlined in my blueprint, my first charge shall be the protection of our people. This will begin with restoring security to our communities and unlocking the full potential of our agricultural economy,” he said.

Dr. Olofu outlined his vision as building “a secure Benue South where lives and livelihoods are protected, a productive economy where agriculture and enterprise thrive, a strong educational system that prepares our children for the future, infrastructure that connects our communities and unlocks opportunities, and a government that is accountable, responsive, and people-centred.”

He assured party faithful that no bloc would be sidelined and stressed that unity, inclusion, and purposeful representation would define his senatorial ambition.

The declaration was witnessed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies, and members of the press.

In politics, some victories are wins. Others are reaffirmations.

Senator Ifeanyi Araraume’s decisive victory in the APC senatorial primary for Imo North, winning across all 54 wards, falls in the second category. At a time when political loyalties shift quickly, the outcome sent a message beyond party mechanics: some structures aren’t built for one election cycle. They’re built over decades through relationships, consistency, and a real grassroots presence.

For his supporters, the ticket was secondary. The vote reaffirmed a political force whose relevance has survived changing governments, shifting alliances, and repeated attempts to sideline him.

In Imo politics, Araraume has become rare: a politician whose staying power doesn’t depend solely on holding office. He has remained visible and active across Imo North, not as the campaign-only candidate who vanishes after elections. His machinery endures because it was built outside electoral convenience.

That durability rests on three pillars: deep grassroots networks, institutional experience, and strategic calculation.

Those foundations first brought him national prominence when he was elected to the Senate in 1999 under the PDP and re-elected in 2003. In the Senate, he chaired the Committee on Power and Steel, served as Vice Chairman of the Niger Delta and Culture and Tourism committees, and led the Southern Senators Forum. His tenure produced tangible projects, including the transmission line from Alaoji to Okigwe and the inclusion of Imo and Abia in the Niger Delta Development Commission.

His influence extended beyond the National Assembly. As a Commissioner at the Nigerian Communications Commission, he was part of the team that oversaw Nigeria’s telecoms liberalisation. Later, as Non-Executive Chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited under President Muhammadu Buhari, he reinforced his standing in national policy circles.

But his core base remains the grassroots. Across Imo North, Araraume has maintained a structure that has survived multiple party configurations. While many politicians rely on incumbency, his influence has repeatedly shown it can survive outside office.

That resilience was tested in 2007. After winning the PDP governorship primary, he was excluded from the ballot. He challenged it in court and won at the Supreme Court, an outcome that cemented his reputation as a politician who doesn’t yield easily. To many supporters, he became a symbol of endurance.

He has remained a recurring force since. His 2019 governorship run under APGA again forced opponents to recalibrate. Political observers have predicted his decline for years, yet each cycle returns him to the centre of the conversation.

Rumours that he had stepped down from the senatorial race collapsed when APC party members voted. For many in Imo North, his emergence felt less like an upset than the restoration of a familiar order.

Araraume’s style aids his longevity. He’s not a flamboyant populist. His approach is measured, strategic, and focused on timing and structure. Those who mistake his composure for weakness often underestimate a veteran tactician.

Beyond Imo State, his likely return to the National Assembly is seen as a boost for experienced legislative engagement. Supporters argue his years in national politics and his network position him to play a stabilising role as Nigeria’s governance landscape evolves.

For Imo North, the calculation is simpler: they see a familiar figure with the experience and connections to attract federal attention and development to the zone. That expectation explains why his influence has endured.

In a system where relevance often fades quickly, Araraume has remained. Others rise and vanish. He stays.

With this primary election win, Imo North has signalled that experience and structure still command respect in Nigerian politics. After decades in the arena, Araraume retains the rare ability to return to the centre of relevance when many assume the story is over.

■ Sufuyan Ojeifo is a journalist and publisher.