Dickson Critiques Nigeria's Direct Primary System

Seriak Dickson, a leader in the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and former governor of Bayelsa State, criticized Nigeria's direct primary system during a television interview. He argued that this system is a major driver of internal party disputes and has led to widespread complaints across political parties.

Dickson described the mandatory direct primary system as a legislative error that strips political parties of the flexibility to determine their candidate selection processes. He insisted that imposing a single model creates tensions, contrasting it with the previous delegate system, which he claimed offered greater structural control and reduced disputes.

Dickson noted that the current electoral framework requires extensive coordination at the ward level, which is highly complex, especially for new political parties. He also pointed out that the direct primary system fosters an environment where multiple aspirants declare themselves winners based on differing interpretations of results, leading to parallel announcements and disputes.