Dickson blames direct primaries for party conflicts, wants flexibility

Seriake Dickson, former Bayelsa State governor and National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), told Arise Television on June 10, 2026 that Nigeria’s mandatory direct primary system is causing internal party disputes and logistical headaches. He argued that the Electoral Act’s imposition of a single primary model strips parties of the ability to choose between direct and indirect methods, a flexibility he says existed under the former delegate system.

Dickson explained that under direct primaries, aspirants can mobilize supporters, declare victory based on differing interpretations, and issue parallel result announcements, leading to conflicts within parties. He noted that INEC must now coordinate extensive ward‑level processes, a complex task especially for newer parties, and that the system has generated a "deluge of complaints" absent during the delegate era.

While acknowledging that grievances are not unique to any single party, he insisted the structure itself fuels competing claims and weakens party cohesion ahead of elections.

For voters and party members, the takeaway is to monitor whether parties advocate for electoral reform allowing a choice of primary method, as the current approach may affect candidate quality and election credibility.

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/06/10/direct-primaries-fuel-internal-party-conflicts-dickson/