Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has emerged as the sole presidential aspirant of the Nigeria Democratic Congress ahead of the 2027 general election.
The development followed the closure of the party’s sale of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for the presidential race, with party insiders confirming that Obi was the only politician who successfully obtained the forms before the deadline.
The NDC, however, announced an extension for aspirants contesting other elective positions, including governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly seats.
In a statement issued by the party’s National Secretary, Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu, the deadline for collecting Expression of Interest Forms for non-presidential positions was extended from May 17 to May 24, 2026.
According to the party, the extension applies only to governorship and legislative aspirants, while the presidential nomination process has officially closed.
The party also released its timetable for the screening exercise, revealing that the screening and verification of aspirants would begin on May 19 and conclude on May 26, 2026.
NDC further disclosed that cleared aspirants would proceed to collect and submit nomination forms between May 20 and May 26.
The party advised all aspirants to appear before screening panels with required documents, including academic certificates, voter’s cards, birth certificates, passport photographs, party membership cards and curriculum vitae.
It added that all submitted documents must be provided in six copies for verification and record purposes.
According to the NDC, aspirants will be assessed based on competence, leadership capacity, public acceptance, integrity and local political realities.
The party also instructed its screening committee to uphold its affirmative action principles by considering women, youths and persons living with disabilities during the selection process.
Party officials encouraged aspirants to embrace consensus arrangements where necessary in order to strengthen internal unity ahead of the 2027 elections.
Obi’s emergence as the lone presidential aspirant comes weeks after his reported defection from the African Democratic Congress coalition to the NDC, a move that reshaped discussions around opposition politics ahead of the next presidential contest.
Political observers believe the development positions Obi as the likely consensus candidate of the party as preparations intensify for the 2027 general election.
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