Governorship aspirants on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Rivers and Cross River States have pledged to support whoever emerges as the party’s candidate in the 2027 elections, describing the party’s screening process as transparent, credible and focused on competence.
The aspirants, who spoke separately after the NDC Aspirants Dinner in Abuja, said the party was determined to produce candidates with integrity, capacity and grassroots acceptance.
One of the Rivers State governorship aspirants, Lulu Briggs, said all contestants in the race should see the process as an opportunity to work for the development of the state and the country rather than a do-or-die affair.
According to him, he would remain loyal to the party irrespective of the outcome of the primaries.
“The more the merrier. I remain a member of the party and I am going to be part of the whole process. Anybody who is contesting should see it as an opportunity to work for the betterment of the country,” he said.
Briggs added that if another aspirant eventually emerges as the party’s candidate and proves to be a better option for the people, he would fully support such a candidate.
“If I feel somebody is a better candidate, I will work for that candidate. Everybody has a right to vote,” he stated.
Speaking on the political situation in Rivers State, he criticised what he described as the domination of the state by a single individual, insisting that governance must be inclusive.
“Rivers State cannot be run like one man’s property. Rivers State belongs to all of us, men, women and children. We are going to change that narrative and build a system that supports everybody,” he said.
He promised to expand the state’s economy and improve the welfare of residents if elected governor.
Another governorship aspirant, Coco-Bassey Mkpang who spoke on the outcome of the screening exercise, described the process as innovative and reflective of the NDC’s commitment to internal democracy.
“The screening process was impressive. The leadership assembled competent people who asked the right questions and ensured that only credible individuals could emerge,” he said.
The aspirant disclosed that consultations were ongoing among the three governorship contenders to ensure the emergence of the most competent and acceptable candidate for the election.
According to him, his governorship vision is anchored on the acronym “HEAD”, Hope, Empowerment, Attitude and Development.
“H stands for Hope because people have lost hope in governance and we want to restore that hope.
“E stands for Empowerment because we intend to create programmes that will improve livelihoods and strengthen governance.
“A stands for Attitude. Having spent over 15 years in the oil and gas sector, I want to take the state to greater heights in tourism and economic development.
“D stands for Development because we want practical and sustainable growth that our people can be proud of,” he explained.
The aspirant argued that the NDC represents a fresh alternative capable of transforming governance in the state.
Similarly, another governorship hopeful from Cross River State said the NDC was gradually becoming the preferred platform for credible politicians and reform-minded Nigerians seeking change.
He maintained that the party was attracting people committed to national transformation rather than politicians driven solely by money and personal interests.
“We believe a new Nigeria is possible and that the party will do the right thing by selecting candidates with proven records of service, credibility and commitment to democracy,” he said.
The aspirant stressed that party tickets should not be reserved for “moneybags,” insisting that competent individuals and activists deserved the opportunity to lead.
The governorship hopefuls expressed confidence that the NDC would emerge stronger after its primaries and present candidates capable of challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 elections.
