“Go to Court and Waste Your Time!” — NDC Insider Warns Aggrieved Aspirants After Controversial Primary

By Passman Akpos

Fresh controversy has emerged over the just concluded candidate selection process within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), as party stakeholders maintain that any legal challenge arising from the party’s primary election may ultimately prove unsuccessful.

Speaking on the outcome of the NDC primary, political commentator and party supporter Onoriode Umukoro described the exercise as a “proper direct primary” designed to test the popularity and grassroots acceptance of aspirants seeking the party’s ticket.

According to him, the opposition party is determined to field only its strongest candidates ahead of future elections, arguing that electoral positions cannot be handed to individuals who lack sufficient support even within their own wards.

“The NDC primary is a proper direct primary. It was for all candidates to prove their popularity. The party will ensure that it fields its best candidates because, as an opposition party with serious intentions, this is necessary,” he stated.

Umukoro further alleged that the party anticipated possible attempts by members of the ruling party to influence the process through compromised officials in order to weaken the opposition’s chances in the general election.

He claimed that the NDC deployed multiple independent observers to monitor the primary exercise, some of whom were reportedly unknown to the contestants themselves. Their reports, he said, would play a significant role in determining the eventual candidates.

While acknowledging that the party leadership may ultimately make final selections, he insisted that only the most popular aspirants would emerge.

“The party may eventually handpick candidates, but only the most popular ones. Reports from observers will be taken very seriously,” he added.

On the possibility of aggrieved aspirants seeking legal redress, Umukoro argued that such efforts would be futile, citing the unique nomination process adopted by the party.

He referenced comments allegedly made by former Bayelsa State Governor and NDC leader, Henry Seriake Dickson, who reportedly stated that only successful candidates would be required to pay for nomination form, According to Umukoro, because unsuccessful aspirants did not purchase nomination forms, they may lack the legal standing required to successfully challenge the outcome of the primary in court under provisions of the Electoral Act.

“In Henry Seriake Dickson’s words, only winners will pay for forms. That means once Abuja announces you, you are free to immediately begin preparations for the general election,” he said.

The remarks come amid growing debate within the NDC over transparency, internal democracy, and the legality of its candidate selection process, with some aspirants reportedly expressing dissatisfaction with the conduct of the primaries.

Party officials are yet to issue an official response to the claims, while observers expect the outcome of the selection process to continue generating political discussions in the coming days.