The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced that all individuals who purchased Expression of Interest forms will be allowed to participate in its upcoming primaries, following what party leaders described as intense deliberations held over several hours into the early hours of Wednesday.
The decision was reached after the party received a report from its Screening Committee, chaired by former Ebonyi State Governor Sam Egwu, during a joint meeting of the Selection Committee, the Screening Committee, and the National Working Committee.
According to a statement issued by Senator Seriake Dickson, who is a founder and national leader of the NDC, the party expressed appreciation for the committee’s “painstaking work” over nearly a week, noting the unexpectedly high number of aspirants across the country.
Dickson said the party was impressed by the level of participation, which he described as numbering “in the thousands,” and thanked all aspirants for their confidence in the NDC platform, as well as those who made financial contributions to the party.
He explained that, in view of time constraints, the party leadership resolved that all aspirants who purchased forms would be permitted to proceed to the primaries in their respective constituencies.
However, only successful candidates emerging from the process will proceed to the party secretariat for documentation, nomination payments, and completion of other formal requirements.
The NDC also confirmed that teams for the conduct of the primaries have been constituted and deployed across all states.
These teams, made up of senior party officials, are expected to oversee the exercise with the involvement of stakeholders and local leaders.
Presidential aspirant and Labour Party leader Peter Obi was among those present at the joint deliberations, alongside members of the National Working Committee and other senior party figures.
Dickson emphasised that the party remains committed to inclusivity, stating that the process should be “women- and youth-friendly” and that emphasis must be placed on candidates with strong electoral viability.
He urged officials to remain fair and transparent while engaging stakeholders at all levels.
The party also issued a strong warning against electoral violence, stating that it has “zero tolerance” for intimidation, threats, or disorderly conduct.
It cautioned that disciplinary measures would be taken against any individual or group found culpable during the primaries.
In terms of logistics, the NDC announced that the primaries are scheduled to begin on May 28 and 29, 2026.
Aspirants are expected to use their Expression of Interest forms to participate in the exercises, which will be conducted at constituency and local government levels depending on the category of office.
Under the arrangement, State House of Assembly primaries would be conducted through direct voting at constituency levels, while House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, and presidential affirmations would take place at local government headquarters across the country.
Final results are expected to be compiled and announced at the party’s National Secretariat by the Selection Committee in conjunction with the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The party also disclosed plans to inaugurate an Appeal Panel to address complaints arising from the exercise.
Dickson acknowledged that the party had originally planned to deploy an electronic voting system for its primaries but said the compressed timeline made full implementation impossible.
He added that this would be the last time the party conducts its primaries manually.
“As I said at the dinner with aspirants, this will be the last primary election in the NDC to be conducted manually,” he stated, adding that future exercises would be fully electronic to reduce disputes and improve efficiency.
He further called on party officials to collaborate with stakeholders, security agencies, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a peaceful, credible, and transparent process.
“We are not building a platform for any individual interest, but a modern political institution that will outlast all of us,” he said, urging unity and understanding among aspirants.
The NDC reaffirmed its commitment to internal democracy, describing the ongoing exercise as a critical step in strengthening the party ahead of future elections.
