The Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, has announced plans to inaugurate a Selection Committee following the completion of the screening exercise for governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly aspirants ahead of the 2027 general elections.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by Osa Director Esq., the party’s National Publicity Secretary.

According to the statement, the National Leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson is to conduct the inauguration.

The statement said, “Following the successful completion of its screening exercise for Governorship, National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly aspirants, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) will on Monday, May 25, 2026, formally inaugurate the members of its recently empaneled Selection Committee.”

According to the statement, the committee which was constituted last week, in furtherance of NDC’s commitment to transparency, internal democracy and credible candidate selection, is mandated to review, scrutinize, and consider the reports and recommendations of the National Screening Committee and the State Houses of Assembly Screening Committees, and to take appropriate decisions on the screening outcomes of all aspirants.

It added that the committee, which is to be chaired by the NDC National Chairman, Sen. Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, will work in concert with the recommendations of the National Working Committee, NWC, as part of ongoing preparations for the upcoming general elections.

It is to ensure that the NDC presents the most formidable candidate for every position to be contested in the general election.

“The inauguration of the 21-member committee, slated for 4:00 pm at the NDC National Secretariat, will be performed by the National Leader, Sen. Henry Seriake Dickson,” the statement added.

Former Ogun State Governor, Olusegun Osoba, says Peter Obi, Goodluck Jonathan and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, are being positioned to divide President Bola Tinubu’s Southern votes in the 2027 general elections.

Osoba made this allegation on Sunday during the announcement of the result of the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential primary at the Presidential Lodge, Abeokuta.

He charged party members not be carried away by the votes garnered by the President in the primary.

The elder statesman equally alleged that there is an underground plot to reduce Tinubu’s margin in the South ahead of the 2027 elections.

“I want to appeal to us all ahead of the coming election: let us not be caught off guard. Many people are saying we have no opponents, but that is a misleading narrative. The enemies are many.

“As we approach the next election, there is a strong gang-up against us. They are plotting to field several candidates from our region in the South. Obi has emerged, Jonathan is quietly waiting in the background, and Makinde has been grandstanding. All these appear to be attempts to divide votes from the South,” he said.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Monday threw his weight behind the emergence of Kingsley Chinda as governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State

Wike said Chinda has the experience and political pedigree needed to be a governor.

Speaking on Monday during an inspection tour of key projects in the nation’s capital, Wike said, “A good product markets itself. Everybody knows that Kingsley Chinda is the material. He is quite experienced. He has worked with the executive and now in the legislature.”

The FCT minister added that Chinda’s political credentials and public acceptance made his emergence unsurprising.

Wike also expressed satisfaction with the quality and pace of ongoing infrastructural projects across Abuja, declaring that several of them were ready for inauguration.

He said the projects reflected the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to delivering visible governance through infrastructural renewal.

“I think today is one of the happiest days. The projects we inspected, obviously, they are ready for inauguration,” the minister said.

Wike first inspected the Renewed Hope City road project in Karsana, which he said was about 98 per cent completed, commending the contractor, Lubriks Construction Company, for what he described as excellent delivery.

He also expressed satisfaction with work on the Old Keffi Road and Dei-Dei road projects, noting that asphalt work had largely been completed while installation of streetlights was ongoing.

At the Airport Road to Kuje Road project being handled by Arab Contractors, Wike described the work as “fantastic,” saying the road would significantly improve connectivity and boost economic activities in the area.

“I’m sure anybody who goes there will admire it and that is what is called governance. We are very proud of the contractors and what they have done,” he stated.

The minister further inspected the Kuje-Gwagwalada road project being executed by Gilmor Engineering Limited, where he said infrastructure development had transformed the landscape of the area.

“You can see how infrastructure has changed the entire landscape of the Kuje area,” he said.

Wike later visited the City Gate project being handled by Julius Berger, describing the ongoing transformation as a major facelift for the capital city.

According to him, the project, initiated by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, would redefine the entrance into Abuja, especially at night.

“When you have a good woman who means well for the administration of her husband, I’m talking about the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, this is her brainchild,” he said.

“I’m happy with the contractor. They promised that by the end of May or first week of June they would hand over this project and they have kept to time.

“Anybody who passes here in the night will see a different city when they are coming in. They will know they are coming to the capital of Nigeria.”