The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced that only aspirants who emerge victorious in the party’s ongoing primaries will be required to pay nomination fees.
The decision was disclosed in a statement shared on X on Wednesday by Senator Seriake Dickson following 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 and screening committees.
According to Dickson, all aspirants who purchased Expression of Interest forms have been cleared to participate in the primaries across their constituencies due to time constraints.
He explained that only successful candidates would proceed to the party secretariat for documentation, payment of nomination forms, and completion of other required processes.
Dickson also revealed that teams made up of senior party officials had been deployed nationwide to supervise the primaries with the support of stakeholders and local leaders.
The Bayelsa West senator urged officials conducting the exercise to ensure fairness and openness while considering aspirants with strong electoral prospects, stressing that the NDC remains committed to promoting women and youths within the party.
He announced that the primaries would hold between May 28 and 29, while an appeal panel had also been inaugurated to handle complaints arising from the process.
According to him, direct primaries for state assembly seats would be conducted at constituency level, while those for the House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, and presidential affirmation would take place at local government headquarters.
Dickson further warned aspirants and their supporters against violence, intimidation, and disorderly conduct, insisting that the party has zero tolerance for actions capable of disrupting the exercise.
He added that although the party initially planned to conduct electronic primaries, the limited preparation time made full implementation impossible, assuring members that 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,” Dickson stated.
