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

The NDC acknowledged that it had to drop its planned electronic voting system for the primaries due to time constraints.

The founder and National Leader of the NDC, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, disclosed this in a statement he signed on Wednesday.

Dickson noted that the decision followed “many hours of discussions involving the National Chairman, presidential candidate Peter Obi, members of the National Working Committee, and the Selection Committee.”

The statement read: “After a briefing at the joint meeting of the Selection Committee and the Screening Committee, and considering the time limitations, we decided that everyone who purchased Expression of Interest Forms would participate in the primaries in their respective constituencies.”

The party clarified that only successful candidates would later proceed to the secretariat to complete documentation, pay nomination fees, and fulfill other necessary requirements.

The party also announced that teams made up of senior officials had been deployed to various states to supervise the primaries, with support from local leaders and stakeholders.

“Our party supports women and young people, and we encourage the teams to focus on candidates who have the capacity to win elections,” the statement said.

The NDC warned against violence during the primaries, stating that sanctions would be imposed on any candidate or supporter involved in intimidation or disruptive conduct.

“We urge peaceful primary elections and emphasize that we have zero tolerance for any form of violence.

“The party will act firmly against anyone who engages in violence, threats, intimidation, or disruptive behaviour,” it added.

The party directed candidates to proceed with the primaries on May 28 and 29 using only their Expression of Interest Forms because of the “tight timelines” facing the party.

Dickson explained that direct primaries would be conducted for State Assembly elections at the constituency level.

“The Selection Committee and the NEC will announce the final results at the party’s National Secretariat.

“We strongly encourage consensus arrangements where necessary,” the statement added.

Winners of the recently concluded primary elections of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, have raised alarm over the delay in the issuance of Certificates of Return to successful candidates.

They are alleging that the development may be part of a calculated move by the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, to alter the list of candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Checks revealed that aggrieved aspirants from different states and elective positions accused the party leadership of creating uncertainty within the ranks of the APC, despite the conclusion of the primaries and declaration of winners by various primary election committees since May 15 and 23, 2026.

Some of the aspirants, who spoke with DAILY POST under the condition of anonymity over fears of being victimized by the party, said the prolonged delay had heightened suspicion among party members.

This comes amid recent remarks allegedly credited to some members of the NWC that the party leadership retained the final authority to determine who eventually emerges as the party’s candidate.

According to them, remarks by some NWC members of the party further fuelled tension among candidates who fear that the outcome of the primaries could be overturned through administrative decisions at the party’s national secretariat.

One of the declared winners said, “We participated in the primaries in good faith; results were announced by the duly constituted primary committees, and winners emerged. But weeks after the exercise, many of us are yet to receive our Certificates of Return.

“What is more troubling is the statement by some NWC members that the party leadership reserves the right to determine who becomes a candidate irrespective of who was declared winner by the chairman of the primary election committee. That statement is dangerous and undemocratic.”

Another aspirant alleged that there were ongoing moves to replace certain candidates who were not favored by influential figures within the party hierarchy.

The aspirants also pointed out that while many candidates were yet to receive their certificates, President Bola Tinubu had already been presented with his Certificate of Return by the party following his victory at the APC presidential primary.

They argued that the prompt issuance of the President’s certificate contrasted sharply with the treatment being meted out to other victorious aspirants across the country.

“The President has already received his Certificate of Return, so why are others being delayed? The party should not create the impression that some candidates are more valid than others,” one of them stated.

When DAILY POST contacted the party’s spokesperson, Felix Morka, for comments, he did not dismiss or confirm the allegation.

“The party leadership has done nothing to warrant this question,” he told DAILY POST.

However, sources inside the party leadership insisted that the NWC was still reviewing reports from the primaries and would take final decisions in line with the constitution and guidelines of the party.

Stakeholders of the APC across the federation have also cautioned the party leadership against any purported nullification of consensus and direct primary elections on grounds of what they described as “premature announcement” of results in the states before transmission to the NWC.

In a memorandum addressed to the National Chairman and members of the NWC and signed by Barrister Abdullazeez Mamman on behalf of APC stakeholders nationwide, the group argued that the committees deployed to conduct the primaries acted as agents of the NWC under delegated authority.

“The ballot is not a proposal. The will of party members expressed through consensus and direct primary elections is not subject to nullification by administrative fiat,” it stated.

Meanwhile, DAILY POST reports that barely 24 hours after President Bola Tinubu clinched the ruling party’s presidential ticket with 10.9 million votes, he was presented with his Certificate of Return by the APC leadership.

Chille Igbawua, an Adviser to the African Democratic Congress, ADC, National Chairman, David Mark, has faulted Peter Obi’s decision to quit the party. Igbawua, who is part of the ADC Electoral Panel, said Obi should have stayed in the party to partake in the presidential primary.

In an interview with Channels Television, Igbawua said Obi would have gained important lessons, even if he ended up losing to the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Igbawua stressed that the ADC primary created a fair opportunity for all candidates.

Highlighting the results from Benue State, he said it showed that Atiku got about 55,000 votes, Rotimi Amaechi received around 30,000 votes, and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen had about 22,000 votes.

“I was there right from the start when we began forming the coalition, and that’s when we chose ADC as our political platform,” Igbawua said.

When asked if Obi might feel relieved about leaving, Igbawua said, “I don’t think he can be grateful, I don’t believe he made the right decision, in my opinion.”

Igbawua emphasized that the coalition was meant to save Nigeria, not for personal gain, and encouraged leaders to put aside their own interests for the benefit of everyone instead of leaving the group when their own needs aren’t fulfilled.

Obi recently left the ADC and is now a presidential hopeful in the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC.