The Nigeria Democratic Congress 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 is headed by former aide to ex-Governor Donald Duke, Agbiji Mbeh, and was formally inaugurated by the State Chairman, Goddie Akpama, on May 19, 2026, in Calabar.
Akpama charged the committee to ensure a transparent, credible and thorough screening process, stressing that the exercise is critical to producing strong candidates for the party ahead of the elections. He explained that the screening will cover aspirants from across the South, Central and Northern senatorial districts to ensure fairness and balanced representation.
According to him, the committee is expected to screen about 10 to 11 aspirants in the first phase, while more contestants are still expected to obtain nomination forms. He gave the committee a three-day deadline to submit its report.
The party chairman warned that the screening process must be taken seriously, noting that political opponents are closely monitoring the party’s activities. He urged members to strictly adhere to constitutional requirements, including tax clearance and other eligibility documents, saying no compromise would be tolerated.
Akpama said the goal is to identify “credible and saleable candidates” capable of winning elections and strengthening the party’s chances in the state assembly polls.
Responding, committee chairman Agbiji Mbeh assured the party leadership that the panel would carry out its assignment diligently and fairly, ensuring only qualified aspirants are cleared to contest.
The screening exercise is expected to play a key role in shaping the party’s lineup ahead of the forthcoming Cross River State House of Assembly elections.
