The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has officially ended the sale of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for its 2027 presidential primary amid reports that only one aspirant joined the race.
Sources within the party revealed that former Labour Party presidential candidate and ex-governor of Peter Obi was the only aspirant who purchased the presidential nomination form before the deadline.
The development has increased political attention within the party as the process moves to the next stage.
NDC Extends Deadline for Other Positions
Although the presidential category has been closed, the party announced an extension for aspirants contesting other elective positions.
According to the NDC, those seeking tickets for governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly positions now have an extra one week to complete their applications.
The new deadline has been shifted to midnight on Sunday, May 24, 2026, replacing the earlier closing date of May 17.
Party officials stressed that the extension applies only to non-presidential offices, maintaining that the presidential nomination process remains closed.
Screening Exercise to Begin
The party also released its screening timetable for aspirants who have successfully obtained and submitted their forms.
Screening is expected to commence on Tuesday, May 19, and continue until Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
Following that stage, the collection and submission of nomination forms for aspirants who scale through screening will begin on May 20 and end on May 26.
The party warned that no further extension would be granted and urged aspirants to strictly follow all procedures and deadlines.
Documents Required for Screening
The NDC directed all aspirants to appear for screening and pre-qualification interviews at designated centres nationwide.
Required documents include:
- Academic certificates
- Birth certificate or age declaration
- Passport photographs
- Voter’s card
- NDC membership card
- Curriculum vitae
The party added that all documents must be submitted in six copies for verification by the Screening Committee.
Obi Emerges Strong Favourite
According to the NDC, aspirants will be assessed based on popularity within the party, competence, capacity, personal character and local political considerations.
The party also noted that affirmative action measures would favour women, youths and persons living with disabilities.
Officials further encouraged consensus arrangements among aspirants, noting that only screened and cleared candidates would proceed to the nomination stage.
With the presidential form sale now concluded and reports showing that Peter Obi was the only buyer, party insiders believe he is strongly positioned to emerge as the party’s consensus presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 elections.
