NDC Adopts Direct Primaries For State Assembly Seats
The National Democratic Congress has formally adopted the report of its screening committee and approved direct primaries for State Assembly positions, setting the stage for one of the most consequential internal contests in the opposition party’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The decision, taken on Wednesday, followed what the party described as extensive deliberations involving the National Working Committee, the Selection Committee, and other critical stakeholders. The meeting was attended by the National Chairman, Moses Cleopas, presidential aspirant Peter Obi, and other senior party officials, according to a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director.
The screening committee, chaired by former Ebonyi State Governor Sam Egwu, presented its report after nearly one week of vetting aspirants across the federation. The party praised the panel’s “diligence, professionalism, and sacrifice throughout the rigorous screening process,” which it said involved an overwhelming number of aspirants from constituencies nationwide.
In a significant procedural decision, the NDC announced that all aspirants who purchased Expression of Interest forms would be cleared to participate in the primaries within their respective constituencies, a concession the party attributed to limited time and consultations with stakeholders. Successful aspirants will subsequently proceed to the party’s national secretariat for documentation, payment of nomination fees, and completion of nomination formalities.
The party has constituted and deployed primary election teams comprising senior officials and experienced administrators to all 36 states of the federation, tasked with overseeing the exercise in collaboration with local stakeholders and party leaders.
Outlining the structure of the contests, the statement read in part: “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. Final results from the exercises will be announced at the party’s National Secretariat by the Selection Committee and the National Executive Committee.”
The leadership further encouraged consensus arrangements among aspirants where feasible “in the overall interest of party unity, stability, and democratic consolidation,” signalling an effort to avoid the bruising legal disputes that have historically dogged Nigerian opposition parties during primary seasons.
The party issued a firm warning against violence, intimidation, threats, and disorderly conduct, vowing that disciplinary measures would be taken against any member found undermining the credibility of the exercise. To manage fallout, an appeal panel will be inaugurated to handle complaints and grievances arising from the primaries.
Notably, the statement conceded that the NDC was operating under significant time constraints, making it impossible to fully deploy its proposed electronic voting and collation system. The leadership, however, assured members that future primaries would be fully digitised, a pledge that aligns the party with broader continental trends toward technology driven internal democracy.
The direct primary model adopted for State Assembly seats permits all registered party members within a constituency to vote, in contrast to indirect primaries where elected delegates cast ballots on behalf of the membership. The approach typically widens grassroots participation but demands substantial logistical capacity, a challenge the NDC must now navigate within its compressed timeline.
The party’s choices in the coming days will offer the clearest indication yet of whether the NDC can transition from a coalition platform into a structured electoral force capable of mounting a credible challenge in 2027.