National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Seriake Dickson, has acknowledged irregularities in the party’s recently concluded primary elections, urging aggrieved aspirants to remain calm as the party moves into a reconciliation phase ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Dickson, a former Bayelsa State governor, made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television and later reiterated his position in a statement shared via his official X account on Thursday.
His intervention comes amid growing complaints from some aspirants and party members over the conduct of the primaries, which were organised by the NDC as part of preparations for its first major electoral outing since its emergence on the national political scene.
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While admitting that the exercise was not flawless, Dickson appealed for understanding, arguing that the party’s age and compressed electoral timetable contributed to many of the challenges encountered during the process.
“While not claiming that the exercise was perfect, I urged all of them to bear with the party in view of the circumstances we are managing, which have overwhelmed even bigger parties,” he said.
The former governor noted that the NDC, which he said is barely four months old, had within a short period conducted membership registration, ward and state congresses, a national convention, primary elections, appeal processes and reconciliation efforts.
According to him, the scale of those activities would have tested even more established political organisations with stronger structures and greater resources.
Dickson also renewed his criticism of the direct primary system prescribed under the Electoral Act, describing it as a major source of logistical and administrative difficulties faced by political parties during candidate selection.
“My views on the Electoral Act have been clear. The APC-led majority were wrong in foisting compulsory direct primaries on political parties and the country. Complaints about irregularities in direct primaries are pervasive across all parties and are not peculiar to the NDC,” he stated.
Despite the controversy surrounding the primaries, Dickson maintained that the NDC had performed creditably considering its infancy and the large number of aspirants it had to manage across the federation.
He dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that winners had already emerged from the party’s primary elections, insisting that no official results had yet been announced.
“No party has announced any set of winners from its primaries, and neither has the NDC. The public should disregard any such claims in circulation, especially on social media, and await the party’s formal submissions through the appropriate channels,” he said.
He added that primary election outcomes would only be communicated through recognised party structures and official channels.
In a bid to address grievances and prevent post-primary divisions, Dickson disclosed that the party’s National Executive Committee had approved the establishment of a Reconciliation Committee.
According to him, the committee will work closely with state caucus leaders, party stakeholders and aggrieved aspirants to resolve disputes and foster unity ahead of the election campaign season.
The NDC leader also announced plans to overhaul the party’s electoral process by introducing technology-driven systems for future primaries.
“This is the party’s first set of primaries, and it will also be the last to be conducted manually. The next primaries will be technologically driven and will have none of these issues,” he assured.
Dickson thanked members, donors and supporters for sustaining what he described as a self-funded political movement without the backing of government resources.
He urged party leaders at all levels to prioritise reconciliation instead of assigning blame, stressing that unity would be critical to the party’s electoral ambitions.
“We are in this together, and we are all committed to ensuring the success of our party and our presidential team, Peter Obi and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso,” he said.
He added that party stakeholders who supervised the primaries must also take responsibility for helping to rebuild confidence among members as preparations for the next phase of the electoral process begin.
