NDC to Introduce Electronic Voting for Future Primaries, Says Dickson

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Henry Seriake Dickson, has announced plans by the party to introduce electronic voting for its future primary elections as part of broader reforms aimed at building what he described as a modern and institution-driven political platform.

Dickson spoke on Monday night in Abuja during the inaugural Aspirants Dinner organised for stakeholders and all screened aspirants on the platform of the NDC.

The event, attended by party leaders, aspirants and supporters from across the country and the Diaspora, was convened to foster unity among members ahead of the party primaries and the general elections.

The party also inaugurated its 21-member Selection Committee, a body expected to work with party organs and caucus leaders in streamlining the candidate selection process following the completion of screening exercises for governorship, National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly aspirants.

Addressing participants at the gathering, Dickson said the NDC was determined to depart from what he termed the traditional style of politics by embracing technology, institutional reforms and internal democracy.

“I assure you that this will be the last primary in the NDC that will be done in the old-fashioned way that Nigerian politics has been playing because of time,” he declared.

“All other primaries, even six months from now, this party will be set for electronic voting. Every registered voter will use their phone to vote because that is the direction Nigerian elections should be going.”

According to him, the party had already developed a digital voting platform and mobile application for the process, but decided against immediate deployment to allow for further testing and to prevent technical failures.

“The platform and the app are ready, but they still have to be robustly tested. We do not want glitches,” Dickson said.

The proposed reform is coming amid growing controversies surrounding the open ballot system currently being adopted by major political parties across the country, with recent primaries of the ruling APC attracting allegations of manipulated figures, inflated vote counts and procedural irregularities.

In some states, aggrieved aspirants petitioned party leaders over alleged fabrication of results and imposition of candidates, while videos circulating online showed disputed delegate counts during exercises in Ebonyi and other states.

The controversies deepened after the APC presidential primary reportedly produced nearly 11 million votes nationwide for President Bola Tinubu, figures that triggered public debate and allegations of inflated returns from opposition figures and political observers.

Dickson explained that the party’s current reliance on conventional primary procedures was due largely to tight timelines imposed by the Electoral Act and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The former Bayelsa governor urged aspirants and stakeholders to show understanding as the party navigates its first major electoral cycle barely three months after its formation.

“We are a new party with a big dream and a big agenda. We know the processes may not yet be perfect because of the constraints of time, but we are building systems that will endure,” he said.

Dickson described the NDC as a “party of innovation,” insisting that its long-term objective was to establish a political institution that would outlive individual ambitions and personalities.

“The NDC is not a special purpose vehicle for any human being. We are building together a political party that will stand the test of time,” he stated.

He said the party intended to create leadership structures from the national level down to wards and polling units to ensure inclusion, participation and continuity.

According to him, future party activities would rely more on direct interaction with members through digital platforms and structured communication systems.

Dickson also defended the establishment of the Selection Committee, saying the body would help the party build consensus and ensure fairness in the nomination process.

He explained that members of the committee would consult widely with the National Working Committee, state leaders and caucus structures before making recommendations on aspirants.

“Your party is a party of innovation. We are building a party that is an institution based on systems, standards and processes,” he said while inaugurating the committee.

The NDC leader further said the party had survived intense pressure and scepticism from opponents who doubted its ability to meet registration and electoral deadlines.

“They thought we would not be able to meet the strict INEC deadlines imposed by the electoral law. Every day they came up with frivolous claims and nonexistent litigations to demoralise us, but Nigerians did not believe them,” he said.

He commended the judiciary and INEC for respecting the constitutional right of Nigerians to freedom of association during the party’s registration process.

Dickson also acknowledged the support the party had received from notable political figures, including Peter Gregory Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, saying their involvement had boosted the party’s national profile.

“From the time they joined this movement, the political landscape of Nigeria has not been the same,” he said.

Earlier in his remarks, the National Chairman of the NDC, Moses Cleopas, said the dinner was organised to ease tensions often associated with nomination periods in political parties.

Cleopas noted that with multiple aspirants vying for limited tickets, party leaders had a responsibility to ensure that even “unsuccessful” aspirants remained valued members of the organisation.

“It is one person at the end of the day that will emerge to carry the banner of a political party,” he said.

“For those who may not emerge, you must make them feel important and part of the family because the general election is very vital.”

The chairman praised aspirants for their patience throughout the screening exercise and described the NDC’s growth within three months as unprecedented.