Dickson reveals new NDC rule for aspirants ahead of primaries

The national leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Seriake Dickson, has revealed that only aspirants who win the party’s primaries will be required to pay nomination fees.

Dickson disclosed this in a statement posted on X, saying the decision was taken after a joint meeting involving the party’s national chairman, Cleopas Moses, presidential aspirant Peter Obi, members of the National Working Committee, NWC, and the party’s selection committee.

According to him, all aspirants who bought Expression of Interest forms will be allowed to participate in the primaries in their various constituencies.

He said only successful candidates will thereafter report to the party secretariat for documentation, payment for nomination forms and completion of other necessary forms.

Dickson said teams made up of senior party officials had been selected and deployed to states to conduct the primaries with the support of stakeholders and local leaders.

The former Bayelsa State governor said the NDC remained a women- and youth-friendly party, but urged officials handling the primaries to give attention to aspirants with the capacity to win elections.

He also directed the teams to work with stakeholders and remain open and fair to all aspirants.

According to him, the primaries will hold on May 28 and 29, with aspirants expected to use their Expression of Interest forms to participate in the exercise.

Dickson said direct primaries for state assembly positions will take place at constituency level, while House of Representatives, Senate, governorship and presidential affirmations will hold at local government headquarters.

He also announced the inauguration of an appeal panel to handle complaints arising from the primaries.

The senator representing Bayelsa West warned aspirants and their supporters against violence, intimidation, threats and disorderly conduct.

He said the party would not tolerate any act capable of disrupting the exercise.

Dickson also admitted that the party’s planned electronic primary system could not be fully implemented due to limited time.

He, however, said future NDC primaries would be conducted electronically.

“As I said at the dinner with aspirants, this will be the last primary election in the NDC to be conducted manually,” he said.