Peter Obi emerges sole aspirant as NDC closes presidential form sales

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has officially closed the sale of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for its 2027 presidential ticket, with indications that former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, was the only aspirant who purchased the form.

The party, however, extended by one week the deadline for the collection of Expression of Interest Forms for other elective positions, including governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly seats.

Sources within the party disclosed that as of the close of sales for the presidential forms, Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, remained the sole aspirant to obtain the documents.

In a statement, the National Secretary of the NDC, Mr. Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu, said the earlier deadline fixed for 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, 2026, had been extended to 12 midnight on Sunday, May 24, 2026.

According to the statement, the extension applies only to aspirants contesting for State Houses of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate and governorship positions.

The party clarified that the sale and collection of Expression of Interest Forms for the office of the President had officially closed.

Under the timetable released by the party, screening of aspirants who purchased and completed the forms will commence on Tuesday, May 19, and end on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.

The NDC also announced that the collection and return of Nomination Forms for screened and cleared aspirants would begin on May 20 and close on May 26, 2026.

The party warned that no further extension would be granted beyond the new deadline and urged aspirants to strictly comply with all guidelines and timelines.

It directed all aspirants to appear for screening and pre-qualification interviews at designated venues nationwide with relevant documents, including educational certificates, birth certificate or declaration of age, passport photographs, voter’s card, NDC membership card and curriculum vitae.

According to the statement, all documents submitted to the Screening Committee must be provided in six copies.

The NDC further stated that aspirants would be screened based on the wishes of the electorate, local peculiarities, competence, capacity and character.

The party also directed the Screening Committee to consider its affirmative action policy for women, youths and persons living with disabilities.

It encouraged aspirants to embrace consensus-building, stressing that only candidates cleared through the screening process would be eligible to purchase nomination forms.

With the latest development, Peter Obi, who recently defected to the NDC from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), is expected to emerge as the party’s consensus presidential candidate for the 2027 election.