By Daily Review Online
The National Democratic Congress has announced the guidelines and modalities for its forthcoming party primaries following the formal adoption of the report submitted by its Screening Committee chaired by Sam Egwu.
In a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, the NDC said the decision was reached after extensive consultations involving the party leadership, the National Working Committee (NWC), the Selection Committee, and other critical stakeholders.
The meeting, attended by the party’s National Chairman, presidential aspirant Peter Obi, and other senior officials, reviewed the outcome of the screening exercise as well as arrangements for the conduct of the primaries nationwide.
According to the party, all aspirants who purchased Expression of Interest Forms would be allowed to participate in the primaries within their constituencies due to the limited time available before the elections.
The party explained that successful aspirants emerging from the exercise would proceed to the NDC National Secretariat for documentation, payment of nomination fees, and completion of nomination formalities.
To ensure smooth conduct of the primaries, the NDC said it had constituted and deployed primary election teams made up of senior officials and experienced administrators to all states of the federation to supervise the process in collaboration with local stakeholders and party leaders.
The party further stated that State Assembly primaries would be conducted through direct primaries at the constituency level, while primaries and affirmations for House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, and presidential positions would hold at various local government headquarters.
It added that final results would be announced at the party’s National Secretariat by the Selection Committee and the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The NDC urged aspirants and party stakeholders to embrace consensus arrangements where necessary in the interest of party unity, stability, and democratic consolidation.
Reaffirming its commitment to inclusiveness, the party encouraged the active participation of women and youths in the electoral process while advising delegates and party officials to support aspirants with strong grassroots acceptance and electoral value.
The party also warned against violence, intimidation, threats, and any form of disorderly conduct during the primaries, stressing that strict disciplinary measures would be taken against offenders.
An Appeal Panel, according to the statement, would be inaugurated to handle complaints and grievances arising from the exercise.
The NDC acknowledged that the current primaries would be conducted manually due to time constraints, noting that it was unable to fully deploy its planned electronic voting and collation system.
However, the party assured members that future primaries would be fully digitised in line with its commitment to transparency, accountability, and modern democratic practices.
The party called on aspirants, supporters, security agencies, and the Independent National Electoral Commission to cooperate in ensuring peaceful, transparent, and credible primaries across the country.