Only successful aspirants in NDC primaries will pay nomination
NDC Primaries to Require Successful Aspirants to Pay Nomination Fees
Senator Seriake Dickson, national leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), announced that only those candidates who win in the party’s forthcoming primaries will be required to pay nomination fees and complete necessary documentation.
In a statement released on X on Tuesday, Dickson outlined the decision made during a joint meeting that included Cleopas Moses, the NDC national chairman, Peter Obi, the party’s presidential aspirant, and members of both the national working committee and selection committee.
“Following a briefing at the joint meeting of the Selection Committee and the Screening Committee, and in light of time constraints, it was decided that all individuals who purchased Expression of Interest Forms will be eligible to participate in the primaries within their respective constituencies,” the statement said.
Only candidates who are successful in the primaries will be required to report to the party secretariat for documentation and will subsequently pay the necessary fees for nomination forms.
“To ensure the smooth conduct of the primaries, teams comprising senior party officials have been assigned to each state. These teams will conduct the primaries with support from local stakeholders and leaders,” Dickson stated.
Emphasizing the NDC’s commitment to promoting women and youth, he urged the primaries teams to consider aspirants with strong electoral prospects.
“The teams should maintain open communication with stakeholders and ensure fairness in representing the interests of all candidates, as we aim to be an inclusive platform for everyone,” he added.
The primaries are scheduled to take place on May 28 and 29. Dickson encouraged all aspirants to utilize their Expression of Interest Forms to participate in the election process.
Additionally, he announced the establishment of an appeal panel to address any complaints that may arise from the primaries. Direct primaries for state assembly positions will occur at the constituency level, while elections for the House of Representatives, Senate, gubernatorial, and presidential positions will be conducted at local government headquarters.
Dickson, who represents Bayelsa West, urged aspirants and their supporters to maintain peace, stressing the party’s zero-tolerance policy for violence, intimidation, and disorderly conduct.
He further noted that while an electronic primary system had been planned, it could not be fully implemented due to time constraints. He affirmed that future primaries would be conducted electronically, stating, “This will be the last primary election in the NDC to be conducted manually.”
