By Ayomide Otitoju
The national leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Henry Seriake Dickson, has announced that only aspirants who emerge successful in the party’s ongoing primaries for the 2027 general elections will be required to pay nomination fees.
Dickson disclosed this in a statement posted on his official X account on Wednesday following a joint meeting involving the party’s National Working Committee, Selection Committee and Screening Committee.
According to him, the decision was reached after deliberations attended by the party’s National Chairman, Moses Zuwoghe; presidential aspirant Peter Obi; and other senior party officials.
He explained that the measure was adopted due to time constraints and the large number of aspirants seeking to contest on the platform of the NDC.
“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.
“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 commended the Screening Committee led by former Ebonyi State Governor Sam Egwu for what he described as its thorough handling of the screening exercise nationwide.
He said teams comprising senior party officials had been deployed to states across the country to conduct the primaries in collaboration with stakeholders and local leaders.
Dickson urged party officials to ensure transparency and fairness throughout the process, particularly in accommodating women and youth aspirants with strong electoral prospects.
He also reiterated the party’s zero tolerance for violence during the exercise, warning that any aspirant or supporter involved in intimidation, threats or disorderly conduct would face disciplinary action.
According to him, State House of Assembly primaries would be conducted through direct primaries at the constituency level, while primaries and affirmations for the House of Representatives, Senate, governorship and presidential positions would hold at designated local government headquarters.
Dickson further disclosed that an appeal panel would be inaugurated to address complaints arising from the primaries.
He acknowledged that the party could not fully implement its proposed electronic voting system due to time and logistical challenges 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 said.
The NDC had earlier announced its nomination fee structure for aspirants seeking elective offices.
Under the arrangement, presidential aspirants are expected to pay a combined ₦60 million for Expression of Interest and Nomination forms, while governorship aspirants are to pay ₦30 million.
Senate aspirants are expected to pay ₦8 million, House of Representatives aspirants ₦6 million, and State House of Assembly aspirants ₦2.5 million.
The party also announced a 50 per cent discount on nomination fees for female aspirants, while persons living with disabilities would pay only 25 per cent of the prescribed fees.
