Seriake Dickson, the former Bayelsa State Governor and National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has once again spoken out against the compulsory direct primary system in Nigeria. He believes it is a key cause of infighting and numerous grievances within political parties.
During a recent interview on Arise Television, Dickson argued that requiring all parties to use direct primaries was a mistake in the Electoral Act. He said it takes away their ability to decide how to pick candidates. In his view, parties should have the freedom to choose between direct and indirect primaries. Forcing one method on everyone creates unnecessary friction.
He pointed out that the old delegate system worked better because it provided more order and control. That system reduced disagreements and limited how many people could challenge the results. Under the current system, Dickson noted, there is an overwhelming number of complaints. The reforms were meant to improve democracy, but they have brought serious logistical and administrative problems instead.
The former governor also highlighted how difficult it is for INEC to manage all the ward-level voting required by direct primaries. This is especially hard for new or small political parties. Furthermore, he explained that direct primaries allow many candidates to claim victory based on their own versions of the results. This leads to multiple people announcing wins and creating disputes. He said, “In a direct primary situation, people go into the field, gather supporters, declare themselves winners and begin to brandish results.”
Dickson acknowledged that no party is free from such problems. Still, he insisted that the system itself fuels internal battles and competing claims within political organizations. He concluded that the current rules need to be reconsidered to reduce conflict.