Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has emerged as the sole aspirant for the presidential ticket of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, ahead of the 2027 general election.
The development followed the closure of the sale of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for the party’s presidential primary, with party insiders confirming that Obi was the only politician who completed the process before the deadline expired.
The NDC, however, announced an extension for aspirants contesting other elective offices across the country. The extension affects governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly positions.
In a statement issued by the party’s National Secretary, Mr. Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu, the deadline for the collection of Expression of Interest Forms for those categories was shifted from Sunday, May 17, to Sunday, May 24, 2026.
The party clarified that the extension does not apply to the presidential race, insisting that the window for presidential aspirants had officially closed.
Party officials disclosed that Obi’s emergence as the only aspirant has strengthened speculations that the former Anambra governor may eventually become the consensus candidate of the party ahead of the next election cycle.
Obi recently joined the NDC after parting ways with the African Democratic Congress, ADC, a move that sparked fresh political conversations within opposition circles and among his supporters nationwide.
According to the timetable released by the party, screening of aspirants will begin on Tuesday, May 19, and end on May 26. The process will cover aspirants who successfully purchased and submitted their completed forms.
The party also fixed May 20 to May 26 for the collection and return of Nomination Forms by aspirants who scale through the screening stage.
The NDC warned that no further extension would be granted after the new deadline and urged aspirants to strictly comply with the timetable and submission guidelines.
It directed all aspirants to appear before screening and pre-qualification panels with relevant documents, including educational certificates, birth certificates or age declarations, passport photographs, voter’s cards, party membership cards and curriculum vitae.
According to the party, all documents are expected to be submitted in six copies to the Screening Committee.
The NDC further explained that aspirants would be assessed based on competence, capacity, character and acceptability among the electorate, while local political realities would also be considered during the screening exercise.
The party added that its affirmative action policy would remain a major consideration, especially for women, youths and persons living with disabilities seeking elective positions under its platform.
It also encouraged aspirants to embrace consensus arrangements where necessary in order to strengthen internal unity ahead of the elections.
