The National Democratic Congress (NDC) will begin its primary elections on May 28, 2026, following adjustments made to align with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) timetable.
The party confirmed on Wednesday that it has suspended its planned electronic voting system for the exercise, citing limited preparation time as the main constraint.
The decision followed an extended internal meeting involving the National Chairman, presidential aspirant Peter Obi, members of the National Working Committee, and the party’s selection structure. The party said it also reviewed a screening report submitted by a panel led by former Ebonyi State governor Sam Egwu.
According to the party, the screening process handled a higher-than-expected number of aspirants, which placed pressure on its preparations ahead of the primaries.
To manage the timeline, the party resolved that all individuals who purchased Expression of Interest forms will be eligible to participate in the primaries within their constituencies. Candidates who emerge from the process will later undergo documentation and formal clearance at the party secretariat, including payment of nomination fees.
State-level supervisory teams have already been deployed to oversee the exercise, working alongside local stakeholders to coordinate proceedings across constituencies.
The party emphasized that the primaries must remain orderly, warning that any form of intimidation or disruption will attract sanctions. It directed all aspirants to participate strictly using their Expression of Interest documentation, given the compressed schedule.
For the House of Assembly seats, voting will take place at constituency level through direct primaries. Other categories—including House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, and presidential contests—will be conducted at designated local government headquarters. Final collation and announcement of results will be handled at the national secretariat by the selection leadership and the National Executive Committee, with encouragement for consensus where possible.
The NDC acknowledged that its electronic voting system could not be fully deployed due to time limitations. Party officials described the current manual process as temporary, noting that it will be the last cycle conducted without electronic voting.
The party added that future primaries and congresses will adopt digital systems to improve efficiency and reduce disputes.
It also urged cooperation among officials, INEC representatives, and security agencies to ensure a peaceful and credible process across all locations.
