Only successful aspirants will pay nomination fees — Dickson

National leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Seriake Dickson, has announced that only aspirants who emerge victorious in the party’s primaries will proceed to pay nomination fees and complete documentation requirements.

Dickson disclosed this in a statement shared on X following a joint meeting involving the party’s National Chairman, Cleopas Moses, presidential aspirant Peter Obi, members of the National Working Committee and the Selection Committee.

According to the statement, the party resolved that all aspirants who purchased Expression of Interest Forms would be allowed to participate in the primaries because of time constraints surrounding the electoral timetable.

“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 stated.

He explained that senior party officials had already been deployed across states to supervise the primaries alongside local stakeholders and party leaders.

The former Bayelsa governor urged officials handling the exercise to remain transparent and fair while paying attention to aspirants with strong electoral prospects, especially women and youths.

“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 added.

Dickson confirmed that the primaries would hold on May 28 and 29, adding that aspirants would participate using their Expression of Interest Forms.

He also announced the inauguration of an appeal panel to handle disputes and complaints arising from the primaries.

According to him, direct primaries for State House of Assembly seats would hold at constituency level, while House of Representatives, Senate, governorship and presidential affirmations would take place at local government headquarters.

The NDC leader warned aspirants and supporters against violence, intimidation and threats, stressing that the party maintained zero tolerance for disorderly conduct during the exercise.

Dickson further acknowledged that the party could not fully deploy its proposed electronic voting system 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 said.

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