JUST-IN: NDC to begin primaries May 28, drops e-voting plan over time constraints

The National Democratic Congress has announced that its primary elections will commence on May 28, 2026, as the party moves to beat the timetable set by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The party, however, admitted that it was forced to suspend its planned electronic voting system for the primaries due to limited time and logistical constraints.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the founder and National Leader of the NDC, Seriake Dickson, said the decision followed extensive consultations involving the party’s National Chairman, presidential aspirant Peter Obi, members of the National Working Committee and the Selection Committee.

According to the statement, the party also received the report of the Screening Committee chaired by former Ebonyi State Governor, Sam Egwu.

The NDC commended the committee for handling what it described as a “staggering number of aspirants” seeking tickets across the country.

The party disclosed that all aspirants who purchased Expression of Interest Forms would be allowed to participate in the primaries in their respective constituencies because of the tight timelines.

It explained that only successful candidates would later complete documentation and nomination requirements at the party secretariat.

The statement further revealed that senior party officials had already been deployed to various states to supervise the exercise alongside local stakeholders and party leaders.

The NDC described itself as a women- and youth-friendly party and urged officials conducting the primaries to pay attention to aspirants with strong electoral prospects.

The party also warned against violence, intimidation and disorderly conduct during the exercise, stressing that sanctions would be imposed on anyone found culpable.

According to the party, direct primaries would be conducted for State Assembly contests at constituency level, while primaries and affirmations for House of Representatives, Senate, governorship and presidential positions would take place at designated local government headquarters.

Final results, the party said, would be announced at the National Secretariat by the Selection Committee and the National Executive Committee.

Dickson acknowledged that the party could not fully deploy its planned electronic voting system for the primaries because of the limited time available.

“As I said at the dinner with aspirants, this will be the last primary election in the NDC to be conducted manually,” the statement noted.

The party admitted that the manual process might not be perfect due to logistical challenges but insisted its long-term goal remained the full adoption of electronic voting for future primaries and congresses.

The NDC urged aspirants, party officials and stakeholders to work closely with INEC and security agencies to ensure peaceful, transparent and credible primaries.

The party also reiterated its commitment to building what it described as “an enduring modern political institution” rather than a platform designed solely for individual political ambitions.

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