Key points
- The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) says its nationwide primaries for the 2027 elections will proceed today as scheduled despite logistical disruptions.
- Only aspirants who emerge successful from the primaries will be required to pay nomination fees and complete documentation.
- The party has warned against unauthorised result announcements and reaffirmed its zero tolerance for electoral violence.
Main story
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has confirmed that its Presidential, National Assembly, Governorship and State House of Assembly primaries will hold nationwide today in line with its original timetable for the 2027 general elections.
The party also announced a new directive stipulating that only aspirants who emerge successful in the ongoing primaries will be required to pay nomination fees.
In a joint statement issued by the party’s National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, and National Secretary, Ikenna Alex-Morgan Enekweizu, the NDC attributed recent scheduling adjustments to transportation and logistical challenges linked to the Eid-el-Kabir holidays.
According to the party, disruptions in flight operations and travel arrangements left several aspirants and members of the screening committee stranded in Abuja after the screening exercise.
The NDC explained that May 28 was set aside for arrivals, documentation with electoral and security agencies, consultations, and preparatory engagements ahead of the primaries scheduled for May 29.
It added that party teams would also use the day to engage stakeholders, party elders and aspirants across various states to ensure smooth coordination of the electoral process.
The party emphasised that no government security agency, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), or the Department of State Services (DSS), is expected to participate in meetings or activities scheduled for May 28, warning that any unauthorised involvement would be treated as invalid.
Outlining the structure of the primaries, the NDC said the process would begin with presidential affirmation, followed by National Assembly primaries, State House of Assembly primaries, and governorship primaries or affirmations.
The party stated that all results would be collated and transmitted to the national headquarters, where the National Working Committee (NWC) would formally announce the outcomes.
It further warned that no state executive committee has the authority to declare results independently, stressing that only the national leadership is empowered to do so.
Separately, the party’s national leader, Henry Seriake Dickson, confirmed that only successful aspirants would proceed to pay nomination fees and complete required documentation.
Dickson disclosed this in a statement posted on his official X handle following a joint meeting of the party’s National Working Committee, Selection Committee and Screening Committee.
He said the decision was taken after extensive deliberations involving senior party officials, including the national leadership and key presidential aspirants.
“Following a briefing at the joint meeting of the Selection Committee and the Screening Committee, and in view of the constraints of time, it was decided that all those who purchased Expression of Interest Forms would be allowed to participate in the primaries in their various constituencies,” he stated.
He added that only candidates who emerge successful would be invited to the party secretariat for documentation and payment of nomination fees.
Dickson also reiterated the party’s zero tolerance for violence, warning that any form of intimidation, threats or disorderly conduct would attract disciplinary sanctions.
He further explained that State House of Assembly primaries would be conducted through direct voting at constituency levels, while National Assembly, governorship and presidential primaries or affirmations would hold at designated local government headquarters.
The issues
The NDC’s revised electoral guidelines reflect ongoing logistical and administrative challenges within party primaries, particularly around funding, coordination and nationwide mobilisation. Concerns also persist over internal party control of result collation and the potential for disputes if transparency mechanisms are not strictly enforced.
What’s next
The NDC’s nationwide primaries will be conducted today across all designated venues, with results expected to be collated and announced at the party’s national headquarters. The National Working Committee is expected to oversee post-primary documentation and candidate formalisation processes.
Bottom line
While logistical challenges prompted minor adjustments to its election timetable, the NDC insists its nationwide primaries will proceed as planned, with new financial and procedural rules aimed at tightening internal processes ahead of the 2027 general elections.
