Politics
NDC: Only Successful Aspirants Will Pay Nomination Fees — Dickson
National leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seriake Dickson, has announced that only aspirants who emerge successful in the party’s primaries will be required to pay nomination fees and complete documentation processes.
Dickson disclosed this in a statement shared on his X handle on Wednesday 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 him, the decision was reached due to time constraints and to ensure broader participation in the party’s primary elections.
“Following a briefing at the joint meeting of the Selection Committee and the Screening Committee, and in view of the constraints of time, it was decided that all those who purchased Expression of Interest Forms would be allowed to participate in the primaries in their various constituencies,” Dickson stated.
He explained that only aspirants who win their primaries would proceed to the party secretariat to pay nomination fees, complete documentation, and fill other necessary forms.
“Only successful candidates will report to the party secretariat for documentation and, in the process, pay for nomination forms and complete other necessary forms,” he added.
The former Bayelsa State governor also revealed that teams made up of senior party officials had been deployed across states to oversee the conduct of the primaries with support from local stakeholders and party leaders.
Dickson urged the committees to ensure fairness and transparency throughout the exercise while considering aspirants with strong electoral value.
“They should liaise with stakeholders and remain open and fair in protecting the interests of all aspirants because, at the end of the day, we are a platform for everyone,” he said.
He noted that the NDC remains committed to promoting youth and women participation in politics and encouraged party officials to uphold democratic principles during the primaries.
The NDC leader further announced that the party’s primaries would hold on May 28 and 29, advising aspirants to present their expression of interest forms to participate in the exercise.
Dickson also disclosed that an appeal panel had been inaugurated to address grievances and complaints that may arise from the primaries.
According to him, direct primaries for state assembly positions would be conducted at constituency levels, while primaries and affirmations for House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, and presidential positions would take place at local government headquarters.
He warned aspirants and their supporters against violence, intimidation, and disorderly conduct, stressing that the party maintains zero tolerance for actions capable of undermining the credibility of the process.
Dickson acknowledged that the party’s proposed electronic primary voting system could not be fully implemented due to limited preparation time, but assured members that future 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 says
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