Only Victorious Aspirants Will Pay Nomination Fees — Dickson Unveils NDC Primary Guidelines

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced that only aspirants who emerge successful in the party’s primaries will pay nomination fees and complete documentation requirements.
The disclosure was made by the party’s national leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, following a strategic meeting involving members of the National Working Committee (NWC), Screening Committee, Selection Committee, NDC National Chairman Cleopas Moses, and presidential aspirant Peter Obi.
Dickson explained that the decision was taken to ease participation and fast-track preparations for the party’s nationwide primaries scheduled for May 28 and 29.
According to him, every aspirant who purchased an Expression of Interest Form will be permitted to participate in the primaries across their constituencies without immediate payment of nomination fees.
“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,” he stated.
The former Bayelsa governor clarified that only candidates who secure victory at the primaries would proceed to the next stage of documentation and formal payment.
“Only successful candidates will report to the party secretariat for documentation and, in the process, pay for nomination forms and complete other necessary forms,” Dickson added.
He disclosed that the party had already deployed senior officials and electoral teams to various states to oversee the conduct of the primaries alongside local party stakeholders.
Dickson further urged officials supervising the exercise to remain impartial and transparent, stressing that the NDC remains committed to fairness, inclusion and internal democracy.
“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.
The senator also announced the inauguration of an appeal panel to handle petitions and complaints arising from the primaries.
Warning against political violence and intimidation, Dickson insisted that the party would not tolerate acts capable of undermining the credibility of the exercise.
He, however, acknowledged that the NDC could not fully implement its planned electronic voting system due to time limitations, assuring members that future primaries would be conducted digitally.
“As I said at the dinner with aspirants, this will be the last primary election in the NDC to be conducted manually,” he declared.