The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Cross River State has inaugurated a nine-member screening committee to vet aspirants seeking the party’s ticket for the State House of Assembly elections. The committee, headed by former aide to ex-governor Donald Duke, Mr. Agbiji Mbeh, was inaugurated on May 19, 2026, by the state chairman of the party, Mr. Goddie Akpama.
Transparency and Credibility Emphasized
Speaking during the inauguration, Akpama charged the committee to ensure a transparent and credible screening process capable of producing candidates that can effectively represent the party in the forthcoming polls. He explained that the screening exercise would focus strictly on Cross River State and not along zonal lines, noting that members of the committee were drawn from the Southern, Central and Northern senatorial districts to guarantee fairness and broad representation.
According to him, the party expects between 10 and 11 aspirants in the first batch of the exercise, while additional aspirants are still expected to obtain nomination forms. Akpama described the assignment before the committee as enormous and sensitive, warning that political opponents were closely monitoring the activities of the party in a bid to discredit its efforts.
Call for Integrity and Diligence
He urged members of the panel to discharge their responsibilities without compromise in order to safeguard the integrity and electoral chances of the party. The chairman stressed that all aspirants must meet constitutional and party requirements before they can be cleared, citing a recent incident where one of the aspirants questioned the necessity of presenting a tax clearance certificate.
“Wherever you find anyone wanting, don’t think of pardoning. The aim is to show that NDC has credible candidates,” he said. Akpama further stated that the mandate of the committee was to separate qualified aspirants from those who fail to meet the standards required by the party.
Optimism for Strong Electoral Performance
He expressed optimism that a thorough screening process would strengthen the party’s chances in the Cross River State House of Assembly elections and position it favourably against rival political parties. “We are looking for the best among many aspirants. We expect the committee to come up with credible and saleable candidates capable of defeating their opponents at the polls,” he added.
Responding on behalf of the committee, chairman of the panel, Mr. Agbiji Mbeh, assured the party leadership that members of the committee would work diligently to ensure that only qualified and electable aspirants emerge from the exercise.
