Peter Obi appears set to emerge as the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 general election following the closure of the sale of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for the party’s presidential race.
Sources within the party disclosed that Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party and former governor of Anambra State, was the only aspirant who purchased the presidential forms before the deadline expired.
The party, however, announced a one-week extension for the sale of Expression of Interest Forms for other elective offices, including governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly positions.
In a statement issued by the National Secretary of the party, Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu, the NDC said the earlier deadline of 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, 2026, had been extended to midnight on Sunday, May 24, 2026, for non-presidential aspirants.
The statement clarified that the extension did not apply to the presidential ticket, as the collection of forms for the office had officially closed.
According to the timetable released by the party, screening of aspirants who had purchased and completed the forms will begin on Tuesday, May 19, and end on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
The party also stated that the collection and submission of nomination forms for aspirants cleared during the screening exercise would commence on May 20 and close on May 26.
The NDC warned that no further extension would be granted beyond the new deadline and urged aspirants to comply strictly with the party’s guidelines and timetable.
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, party membership card and curriculum vitae.
According to the party, all documents submitted to the screening committee must be provided in six copies.
The NDC added that aspirants would be assessed based on the wishes of the electorate, local considerations, competence, capacity and character.
The party also instructed its screening committee to take into account its affirmative action policy for women, youths and persons living with disabilities.
It further encouraged aspirants to embrace consensus arrangements, noting that only candidates cleared through the screening process would be eligible to purchase nomination forms.
Obi recently defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress from the African Democratic Congress amid ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 presidential election.