The National Democratic Congress has announced that only aspirants who emerge successful in its primaries will proceed to pay nomination fees and complete documentation at the party’s national secretariat.
The party’s National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, disclosed this in a statement shared on X on Wednesday, following a joint meeting of the Selection Committee, Screening Committee, National Working Committee and other key stakeholders.
The meeting was attended by the NDC National Chairman, Cleopas Moses; the party’s presidential aspirant, Peter Obi; members of the National Working Committee and members of the Selection Committee.
Dickson said the decision was taken because of time constraints and the need to allow all aspirants who purchased Expression of Interest forms to participate in the primaries in their various constituencies.
“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,” the statement read.
He added that only successful aspirants would later report to the party secretariat for documentation, payment for nomination forms and completion of other necessary formalities.
Dickson also disclosed that primary election teams made up of senior party officials had been selected and deployed to all states to conduct the exercise with the support of stakeholders and local party leaders.
According to him, the primaries will hold on May 28 and 29, while aspirants are expected to use their Expression of Interest forms to participate in the exercise.
He said direct primaries for State Assembly positions would be conducted at the constituency level, while affirmations and primaries for House of Representatives, Senate, governorship and presidential positions would take place at local government headquarters.
The NDC leader urged the primary election teams to be fair, open and attentive to aspirants with the capacity to win elections, noting that the party remained women- and youth-friendly.
He further warned aspirants and their supporters against violence, intimidation, threats and disorderly conduct, stressing that the party has zero tolerance for actions capable of undermining the credibility of the process.
Dickson also announced that an appeal panel would be inaugurated to handle complaints and grievances arising from the primaries.
He acknowledged that the party’s planned electronic voting system could not be fully deployed because of limited 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 added.
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