The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) says it has introduced strict measures to stop aspirants from leveraging the popularity of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso to gain political advantage.
The party’s spokesman, Osa Director, stated this while appearing on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, noting that unlike in 2023, the NDC would now carry out more rigorous screening of aspirants.
“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 (NDC),” Director said.
“As you have said, [they did so] 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.
“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?”
Peter Obi was the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, while Rabiu Kwankwaso flew the flag of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
Ahead of that election, several relatively unknown candidates joined both parties and secured tickets, though many later defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) after the polls.
Director said the NDC has now taken lessons from that experience to avoid a repeat.
“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.”