ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Nigeria Democratic Congress (ADC) has said it will not allow political aspirants to exploit the popularity of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso to secure elective positions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme, the spokesman of the NDC, Osa Director, said the party had learnt from the experiences of the 2023 elections and would now carry out strict screening of aspirants seeking tickets under its platform.
According to him, many individuals, including Nigerians in the diaspora with little or no political background, rushed to obtain nomination forms under the NDC because they viewed the party as a strong alternative platform and hoped to benefit from the influence of Obi and Kwankwaso.
“We have learnt from the incident of the past that happened in the Labour Party, and that was why during our screening, we took particular special notice of the fact that a lot of people, especially people from the diaspora who have never participated in politics, rushed to get a form under the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress,” Director said.
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“As you have said, probably to ride on the Obi-Kwankwaso wave and also because they see that the NDC is a vibrant alternative platform to the mess we’re having in the country today, and we are conscious of all that.”
Director explained that during the party’s screening process, aspirants were questioned extensively about their political vision, credentials and grassroots involvement.
“Even during the screening, most of them were asked all those questions about their vision and credentials, so they know. And if you are not on the ground, who is going to vote for you?” he added.
Obi was the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election, while Kwankwaso contested on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party.
Ahead of the 2023 elections, several relatively unknown politicians joined both parties and secured elective positions. However, many later defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress shortly after winning office.
The NDC spokesman said the party would not repeat those mistakes, stressing that aspirants without proven integrity, commitment and alignment with the party’s ideals would not be given tickets.
“So, flowing from that experience, the NDC has also told all the aspirants that it is not going to be business as usual. We are going to check your pedigree,” he said.
“If you don’t have a verifiable pedigree and commitment to the party, to the principles and values that the party is espousing, then you are not going to pick a ticket and fly the flag of the NDC. So, we are learning from the mistakes of the past.”