THE national leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seriake Dickson, has announced that only candidates who emerge victorious in the party’s ongoing primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections will be required to pay nomination fees.
Dickson disclosed this in a statement shared on his official X account after a joint meeting involving the party’s National Working Committee, Selection Committee, and Screening Committee.
According to him, the decision was reached due to time limitations and the unexpectedly large number of aspirants contesting on the NDC platform.
The meeting was attended by the party’s National Chairman, Moses Zuwoghe, presidential aspirant Peter Obi, and other senior party officials.
He explained that all aspirants who purchased Expression of Interest forms would be allowed to participate in the primaries across their constituencies, while only successful candidates would proceed to the party secretariat for documentation and payment of nomination fees.
Dickson also commended the Screening Committee, led by former Ebonyi State Governor Sam Egwu, for managing the large number of aspirants nationwide.
The NDC primaries for the 2027 elections are scheduled to take place across the country between May 28 and May 29, 2026.
The former Bayelsa governor said teams of senior party officials had already been deployed to oversee the exercise in different states with support from local stakeholders.
He urged the committees to ensure transparency and fairness, especially in giving opportunities to women and youth aspirants with strong electoral prospects.
Dickson further stressed the party’s zero tolerance for violence, warning that any individual involved in intimidation, threats, or disruptive behaviour during the primaries would face disciplinary measures.
He explained that State House of Assembly primaries would be conducted through direct voting at constituency level, while primaries for the House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, and presidential positions would be held at designated local government headquarters.
The NDC leader also announced plans to establish an appeal panel to handle complaints arising from the exercise.
Speaking on the party’s planned electronic voting system, Dickson admitted that the NDC could not fully implement it for the current primaries because of logistical and time constraints. However, he assured members that future primaries would be conducted electronically.
Earlier, the party released its fee structure for aspirants. Presidential hopefuls are expected to pay a combined ₦60 million for Expression of Interest and Nomination forms, while governorship aspirants will pay ₦30 million.
Senate aspirants are to pay ₦8 million, House of Representatives aspirants ₦6 million, and State House of Assembly aspirants ₦2.5 million.
The party also announced a 50 per cent discount on nomination fees for female aspirants, while persons living with disabilities will pay only 25 per cent of the approved fees.
The development comes after prominent politicians, including Rabiu Kwankwaso and Peter Obi, defected to the NDC from the ADC ahead of the 2027 elections.
