ABUJA — Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the political landscape has witnessed a major shift as the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, officially emerged as the sole presidential aspirant of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
This development follows the formal closure of the sale of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for the party’s presidential ticket. Top hierarchy sources within the party, speaking to Vanguard, confirmed that at the expiration of the deadline at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, 2026, only Obi had purchased and submitted the required expressions of interest for the highest office in the land.
Legislative Forms Extended; Presidential Window Shut
In an official statement released by the NDC National Secretary, Mr. Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu, the party confirmed that while the door has firmly closed on the presidential race, an extension has been granted for other elective positions.
The deadline for purchasing forms for governorship, Senate, House of Representatives, and State Houses of Assembly tickets has been moved from the initial May 17 deadline to midnight on Sunday, May 24, 2026.
”The extension applies strictly to aspirants seeking tickets into the State Houses of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, and Governorship positions. The collection of Expression of Interest Forms for the office of the President has officially closed,” Enekweizu clarified.
Screening and Internal Party Timetable
According to the official timetable released by the party’s leadership, the screening of all aspirants who purchased and completed their forms is scheduled to begin today, Tuesday, May 19, and will run through Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
Aspirants are required to appear before designated screening panels nationwide with their credentials, including:
- Educational/Academic certificates
- Valid voter identification cards
- Birth certificates or sworn declarations of age
- Party membership documents
- Passport photographs and six copies of their Curriculum Vitae (CV)
The party’s leadership emphasized that the screening process will strictly evaluate the competence, character, grassroots appeal, and local political dynamics of all candidates. It will also heavily integrate the NDC’s constitutional affirmative action guidelines for women, youth, and persons living with disabilities (PWDs).
The collection and return of formal Nomination Forms for successfully screened and cleared candidates will take place concurrently between May 20 and May 26, 2026. The party warned that no further extensions would be granted to late entries.
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A Rapid Realignment in the Opposition Space
Obi’s emergence as the sole aspirant under the NDC banner comes on the heels of a rapid and high-profile realignment within Nigeria’s opposition ecosystem. Only weeks ago, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate left the African Democratic Congress (ADC) following internal leadership frictions and formally teamed up with the NDC alongside former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
With no other challenger stepping forward to purchase the multi-million naira presidential forms before the Sunday deadline, political analysts note that Mr. Obi is essentially positioned to emerge as the party’s consensus presidential candidate, pending his formal clearance by the screening committee and subsequent ratification at the national convention.
