The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has released final guidelines and modalities for its upcoming party primaries after extensive consultations among its leadership.
The party’s National Working Committee (NWC), Selection Committee, Screening Committee and other stakeholders reviewed and adopted the Screening Committee’s report, chaired by His Excellency Dr. Sam Egwu.
The review meeting, attended by the National Chairman, presidential aspirant His Excellency Peter Obi, and senior party officials, examined the screening outcomes and agreed the procedures to govern the primaries.
In an official statement signed by Osa Director, National Publicity Secretary of the NDC, the party praised the Screening Committee for its dedication, professionalism and commitment during a nearly week-long exercise that screened a large field of aspirants from across the country.
The NDC also thanked all aspirants and supporters for their trust in the party and for contributing to its growth nationwide.
Given the need to move quickly and the limited time available, the party has approved that all aspirants who purchased Expression of Interest forms will be allowed to contest in the primaries in their respective constituencies.
“Successful aspirants emerging from the primaries will thereafter proceed to the party’s National Secretariat for documentation, payment of nomination fees, and completion of all necessary nomination formalities,” it stated.
The party has also constituted and deployed primary election teams made up of senior officials and experienced party administrators to all states of the federation to oversee and conduct the exercise in collaboration with local stakeholders and party leaders.
“In line with party guidelines, primaries for State Assembly positions shall be conducted through direct primaries at the constituency level, while affirmations and primaries for House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, and presidential positions shall take place at the various local government headquarters,” the statement said.
Final results from the exercises, it also explained, will be announced at the party’s National Secretariat by the Selection Committee and the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The NDC strongly encourages consensus arrangements wherever possible in the overall interest of party unity, stability, and democratic consolidation.
The party reiterates its commitment to inclusiveness and encourages women and youth participation at all levels of the electoral process. Delegates and party officials have also been advised to pay close attention to aspirants with proven electoral value and grassroots acceptance.
Furthermore, the NDC maintains a zero-tolerance stance on violence, intimidation, threats, and disorderly conduct. The party warns that strict disciplinary measures will be taken against any individual or group found engaging in acts capable of undermining the credibility and peaceful conduct of the primaries.
An Appeal Panel, the party said, will also be inaugurated to address complaints and grievances that may arise during the exercise.
The party acknowledges that the current primaries are being conducted under significant time constraints, which made it impossible to fully deploy the electronic voting and collation system originally designed for party primaries and congresses. However, the leadership assures members that this shall be the last manual primary election conducted by the NDC.
Future party primaries, the statement also explained will be fully digitised in line with the party’s commitment to transparency, accountability, efficiency, and modern democratic practices.
The NDC therefore calls on all aspirants, stakeholders, supporters, security agencies, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to cooperate fully in ensuring peaceful, credible, transparent, and successful primaries across the federation.
As a party committed to nation-building and institutional democracy, the NDC remains determined to build an enduring modern political institution that will outlive individual ambitions and serve the long-term interests of the Nigerian people, the statement concluded.
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