The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced a comprehensive timetable for its 2027 general election primaries, setting the cost of presidential nomination forms at ₦60 million as it officially opens sales for aspirants.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and made available to journalists, the party said the sale of Expression of Interest forms will commence on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, and close on Monday, May 18, 2026.
The statement was jointly signed by the party’s National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas Zuwoghe, and National Secretary, Barrister Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu.
Presidential Aspirants to Pay ₦60 Million
Under the approved structure, presidential hopefuls will pay ₦20 million for the Expression of Interest form and ₦40 million for the Nomination Form, bringing the total to ₦60 million.
Governorship aspirants will pay ₦10 million for Expression of Interest and ₦20 million for nomination, totaling ₦30 million.
For legislative offices, the party fixed Senatorial forms at ₦3 million for Expression of Interest and ₦5 million for nomination, while House of Representatives aspirants will pay ₦2 million and ₦4 million respectively.
Aspiring members of state Houses of Assembly are required to pay ₦1 million for Expression of Interest and ₦1.5 million for nomination forms.
According to the timetable, screening and interviews will hold from May 19 to May 21, after which successful aspirants will proceed to obtain nomination forms.
The sale of nomination forms is scheduled for May 21 to May 23, while submission closes on May 25. Appeals arising from the screening process will be entertained on May 25 and 26.
Party primaries for various offices are billed for May 27 and 28, with the presidential primary scheduled to take place on May 29, 2026, in Abuja.
The party said governorship primaries will be conducted at the local government level, while screening for National Assembly and presidential aspirants will be handled at its national secretariat in Abuja.
It also disclosed the adoption of an “open secret ballot” system for its primaries, describing it as part of efforts to enhance transparency and credibility in candidate selection.
In a notable policy shift, the NDC introduced fee concessions aimed at widening participation.
According to the party, female aspirants will pay only 50 percent of the prescribed fees, while persons living with disabilities will enjoy a 75 percent waiver across all categories.
The development marks the formal beginning of the NDC’s internal electoral process ahead of the 2027 polls, with analysts expected to scrutinize both the pricing structure and the party’s commitment to inclusive participation.
