The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) says it has put measures in place to prevent aspirants from riding on Peter Obi’s and Rabiu Kwankwaso’s popularity to power as was the case in Labour Party during the last election circle.
The NDC spokesman, Osa Director, while featuring as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, disclosed that to avert what many politicians did in 2023, the fast-growing opposition party was thorough in the 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).
“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?” Director asked.
Obi was the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, while Kwankwaso flew the flag ofthe New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in that exercise.
In the buildup to that election, several aspirants, some relatively unknown, joined the LP and NNPP and even won. But months into their tenure, many of them dumped these parties for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The NDC spokesman said his party has learnt from that, adding that as a result of “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.
“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.”
