Seriake Dickson, the National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, has acknowledged that the party’s recently concluded primaries recorded some irregularities, while calling on members and aspirants to remain patient with the process.
In a post on his official X handle on Thursday, Dickson said the exercise was not perfect but urged party members to understand the challenges the party is facing as a young political organisation.
Last night, I had an interview with Arise TV, where I sympathised with our aspirants over some noticeable irregularities in our just-concluded primaries. I noted that, 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,” he said.
He added that the difficulties experienced during the primaries were not unique to the NDC, noting that other political parties have faced similar issues in their internal processes.
“We are just four months old and have been thrown into the middle of a very tight electoral timeframe, within which we had to carry out membership registration, congresses up to the national convention, primaries, appeal processes, and now the reconciliation phase,” he said.
The former Governor of Bayelsa State said many of the complaints raised by aspirants were linked to the direct primary system provided under the Electoral Act.
“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.
Dickson maintained that the party had performed well considering its short existence and the number of aspirants it managed during the process.
“As a matter of fact, considering the age of the NDC and the teeming number of aspirants we have had to manage, we have done quite well,” he said.
He dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that winners had already been announced, stressing that no official results had been released.
“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.
Dickson also said the party had put in place a reconciliation mechanism to manage grievances arising from the primaries.
“In anticipation of these challenges, the 2nd NEC meeting approved the composition of a Reconciliation Committee to work with state caucus leaders and other stakeholders in managing grievances,” he said.
He further assured members that future primaries would be improved through technology, describing the recent exercise as the party’s first and last manual process.
“This is our 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 said.
The NDC leader thanked members for their financial contributions and support, describing the party as self funded and dependent on voluntary backing from supporters.
He also called for unity ahead of future elections, urging members to support the party’s candidates, including its presidential ticket involving Peter Obi and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
He added that state level leaders must take responsibility in supporting reconciliation efforts rather than shifting blame, as the party continues its internal restructuring and preparation for upcoming elections.
