Tension is mounting within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Bayelsa State following allegations of interference and attempted manipulation of the party’s House of Assembly primary election in Ekeremor Constituency 3.
Aggrieved party loyalists and youths from Aghoro Community in Ekeremor Local Government Area have accused former Bayelsa First Lady, Dr. Rachael Dickson, of allegedly influencing the outcome of the party’s primary election in favour of her cousin, Mr. Alex Jenakumo, despite claims that Hon. Johnbull Cleopas emerged as the clear winner of the exercise.
The youths alleged that Cleopas secured overwhelming support from delegates and stakeholders across the constituency, defeating Jenakumo in both the stakeholders’ selection process and the subsequent direct primary election conducted by the party.
According to community leaders, the direct primary election held at the Ekeremor Constituency 3 headquarters in Aghoro Community saw Cleopas poll 245 votes to emerge victorious. The result was reportedly collated by Mr. Ayibakuro Peter and announced by the electoral officer, Mr. Oweila Adaka, at the conclusion of the exercise.
The controversy, however, stems from alleged moves by some party leaders to substitute the outcome of the primary in favour of Jenakumo.
Stakeholders recalled that during a constituency meeting held on May 27, 2026, five aspirants seeking the NDC ticket were screened and later reduced to two contenders — Hon. Johnbull Cleopas and Alex Jenakumo.
At the stakeholders’ voting exercise, Cleopas secured 12 votes, while Jenakumo polled seven votes, leading to Cleopas’ emergence as the consensus candidate of Ekeremor Constituency 3.
Party members alleged that despite the outcome, some members of the Ekeremor NDC caucus, including Chief Suru Oyarede, Elder Simeon Epebifie, and Hon. Pius Jonah, alongside the party’s local government chairman, Mr. Ebide Brown, forwarded Jenakumo’s name to higher authorities instead of that of Cleopas.
The stakeholders described the action as undemocratic and a direct affront to the wishes of party members in the constituency.
In a statement, Aghoro youths warned against any attempt to overturn the results of the primary election, insisting that the process was transparent and reflected the will of the people.
They further appealed to Dr. Rachael Dickson to remain neutral in the dispute, noting that both Cleopas and Jenakumo are sons of Aghoro Community and deserve equal treatment.
The youths maintained that any attempt to impose a candidate contrary to the outcome of the primary election could trigger widespread discontent among party supporters and negatively impact the NDC’s electoral fortunes in the constituency.
They vowed to resist any move aimed at subverting the democratic process, stressing that Hon. Johnbull Cleopas remains the candidate chosen by both stakeholders and party members in Ekeremor Constituency 3.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Dr. Rachael Dickson nor the NDC leadership in Bayelsa State had officially responded to the allegations.
