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Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has screened and cleared Peter Obi as its presidential aspirant.
Chairman of the NDC National Screening Committee and former governor of Ebonyi State, Senator Sam Egwu, disclosed Obi’s clearance in a video shared on the party’s official X account on Wednesday.
Egwu who noted that the committee was satisfied that Obi met all constitutional and statutory requirements to contest for the presidency, said, “This is to certify that, following the screening of His Excellency Peter Obi by the National Screening Committee of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, and having satisfied ourselves that he has complied with all the requirements of the constitution of the party, the Electoral Act, and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), dealing with eligibility to contest the presidential election, and having provided satisfactory answers to all questions put to him by members of the committee, he is hereby cleared to contest in the presidential primaries of the party for the 2027 presidential election on dates to be announced by the party.”
The screening exercise was conducted in Abuja on Tuesday.
Recall that Obi, who was screened on Tuesday, arrived at the party’s national secretariat shortly after the chairman of the screening committee and former governor of Ebonyi State, Senator Egwu, entered the venue for the exercise.
On his part, Obi, while reacting via his official X account on Wednesday, said that the screening lasted more than two and a half hours, during which members of the committee examined his credentials and questioned him on his vision for Nigeria.
“Yesterday, May 19, in Abuja, I attended the presidential screening organised by our party, which took over two and a half hours. They carefully reviewed all my documents, including my degree certificates, NYSC credentials, and age declarations.
“During the process, I also addressed questions regarding my vision for a new Nigeria and the type of leadership our nation urgently needs right now.
“Following this, I was cleared and received the presidential nomination form I had previously paid for,” he said.
Obi also commended the screening committee and the party leadership for what he described as a credible and transparent process.
“I would like to commend the screening committee, led by former governor Sam Egwu, for their thorough and professional approach. Additionally, I appreciate our party’s leadership for upholding the democratic process,” he added.
The development comes amid ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general election, with opposition parties intensifying consultations and preparations for party primaries and coalition talks.
With this development, the former Anambra State governor remains the sole aspirant of the NDC for the 2027 presidential race against the backdrop that only purchased the expression of interest and nomination form to run.
Recall that the NDC had on Monday announced the closure of the sale of its expression of interest and nomination forms for the position of president.
The party however extended the deadline for the collection of its Expression of Interest Forms for key elective offices ahead of the 2027 general election, giving aspirants an additional one week to complete the process.
In a statement in Abuja and signed by the party’s National Secretary, Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu, the NDC announced that the deadline, earlier fixed for 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, 2026, has now been shifted to 12:00 midnight on Sunday, May 24, 2026.
According to the statement, the extension affects aspirants seeking tickets for the State Houses of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, and Governorship positions.
It, however, declared that the sale and collection of Expression of Interest Forms for the Office of the President has officially closed.
According to the timetable released by the party, screening of aspirants who have purchased and completed the forms will commence on Tuesday, May 19, and end on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
The statement further stated that the collection and return of nomination forms for screened and cleared aspirants will begin May 20 and close May 26, 2026.
