The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced that its primary elections will begin on May 28, 2026, while also confirming the suspension of its planned electronic voting system for the exercise.
In a statement released on Wednesday, May 27, the party’s National Leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, said the decision was influenced by time constraints and the need to align with the timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to the party, the move followed lengthy deliberations involving the National Chairman, presidential aspirant Peter Obi, members of the National Working Committee, and the Selection Committee.
The party commended the screening committee chaired by former Ebonyi State Governor Sam Egwu for managing a large number of aspirants, and also appreciated candidates and supporters who aligned with the party.
It further stated that only successful aspirants would proceed to complete documentation, purchase nomination forms, and fulfill other requirements at the party secretariat.
The NDC also issued a strong warning against violence, stressing that it would sanction any aspirant or supporter involved in intimidation or disorderly conduct during the primaries.
An Appeal Panel is expected to be set up to handle complaints arising from the process.
For State Assembly seats, the party said direct primaries would hold at constituency level, while other positions such as House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, and presidential tickets would be decided at local government headquarters.
The statement added that results will be compiled and announced at the national secretariat, with consensus encouraged where possible.
The party acknowledged that the manual process is temporary, noting that future primaries will be conducted electronically to improve transparency and reduce disputes.