The Nigeria Democratic Congress has officially closed the sale of its Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for the 2027 presidential ticket, leaving the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, as the sole aspirant in the race. While the presidential window has closed, the party has granted a one-week extension for the collection of forms for other elective positions, including governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives, and State Houses of Assembly seats.
Insiders within the party confirmed that by the official close of sales, the former Anambra State governor was the only candidate to have purchased the presidential forms. In a statement tracking the structural timeline, NDC National Secretary Mr. Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu announced that the deadline, which was originally set for 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, 2026, has now been extended to midnight on Sunday, May 24, 2026. The party emphasised that this extension strictly applies to legislative and gubernatorial hopefuls, reiterating that the collection of forms for the office of the President is officially over.
According to the official NDC timetable, the screening of aspirants who completed and submitted their forms commences today, Tuesday, May 19, and will run through Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Following clearance, the collection and return of Nomination Forms for screened candidates will take place between May 20 and May 26. The NDC leadership issued a stern warning that no further extensions will be entertained, urging all aspirants to adhere strictly to the schedule.
Candidates are required to present themselves at designated national venues for screening and pre-qualification interviews. They must provide six copies of all required credentials, including educational certificates, birth certificates or age declarations, passport photographs, voter’s cards, NDC membership cards, and detailed curriculum vitae.
The NDC stated that its screening process will heavily weigh the desires of the electorate, local political dynamics, competence, and the personal character of the aspirants. Additionally, the Screening Committee has been mandated to uphold the party’s affirmative action policy, ensuring deliberate consideration for women, youths, and persons living with disabilities.
The party leadership also advocated for consensus-building among its members, reminding aspirants that only those cleared by the screening committee will be eligible to purchase final nomination forms. Given these developments, Obi, who recently defected to the NDC from the African Democratic Congress, is overwhelmingly positioned to emerge as the party’s consensus presidential standard-bearer for the 2027 polls.
