The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has officially begun the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms for aspirants preparing to contest elective offices in the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by the party’s national chairman, Moses Zuwoghe, and national secretary, Ikenna Enekweizu, the NDC said the process will begin on May 13, 2026, and end on May 18, 2026.
According to the timetable, screening and interviews for all aspirants will be conducted between May 19 and May 21, with eligibility for purchasing nomination forms determined by performance in the exercise.
The party directed all aspirants to appear for screening with relevant academic and supporting documents, stressing that compliance with guidelines would be strictly enforced.
Nominations will open immediately after the screening exercise on May 21 and run until May 23, while completed submissions are expected to be returned on or before May 25, 2026.
The party added that petitions and appeals arising from the screening process will be handled between May 25 and May 26, ahead of primary elections scheduled for May 27 and May 28.
Its presidential primary is slated for May 29, 2026, in Abuja.
The party further stated that screening for state House of Assembly aspirants will take place at the state level, while national assembly and presidential aspirants will be screened at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja. Governorship screening, it added, will be conducted at the local government level.
All aspirants, according to the NDC, must sign undertakings committing to its guidelines and internal code of conduct.
Reaffirming its electoral preparations, the party pledged what it described as a “transparent, inclusive, and democratic process” in the conduct of its primaries and sale of forms.
The NDC confirmed the adoption of an “open secret ballot” system for all primary elections, aimed at strengthening credibility and internal democracy.
On cost structure, the party said its nomination fees remain comparatively lower than those of other major political parties.
For state house of assembly aspirants, the fees are set at N1 million for the expression of interest and N1.5 million for the nomination forms. House of Representatives aspirants will pay N2 million and N4 million, respectively, while Senate aspirants are required to pay N3 million and N5 million.
Governorship aspirants will pay N10 million for expression of interest and N20 million for nomination, while presidential aspirants are expected to pay N20 million and N40 million, respectively.
The NDC added that female aspirants will receive a 50% discount, while persons living with disabilities will enjoy a 25 % reduction across all categories.
