The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced that only aspirants who emerge victorious in its ongoing primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections will be required to pay nomination fees.
The decision was disclosed by the national leader of the NDC, Seriake Dickson, in a statement shared on his X account after a joint meeting of the party’s National Working Committee, Selection Committee and Screening Committee.
According to the former Bayelsa State governor, the move was adopted because of time constraints and the large number of aspirants contesting on the party’s platform.
“Only successful candidates will report to the party secretariat for documentation and, in the process, pay for nomination forms and complete other necessary forms,” Dickson said.
The meeting was attended by NDC National Chairman Moses Zuwoghe, presidential aspirant Peter Obi and other senior party officials.
The NDC primaries for the 2027 general elections are scheduled to hold nationwide between May 28 and May 29, 2026.
Dickson praised the Screening Committee led by former Ebonyi State governor Sam Egwu for handling what he described as a large number of aspirants across the country.
He said senior party officials had already been deployed to various states to supervise the exercise, while urging transparency and fairness, especially towards women and youth aspirants.
The former governor also warned against violence, intimidation and disorderly conduct during the primaries, stressing that offenders would face disciplinary action.
He explained that State House of Assembly primaries would be conducted through direct primaries at constituency level, while primaries for the House of Representatives, Senate, governorship and presidential positions would hold at designated local government headquarters.
Dickson further revealed that the party could not fully implement its planned electronic voting system because of logistical and time challenges but assured members that future primaries would be conducted electronically.
The development comes after the NDC earlier announced its fee structure for aspirants. Presidential aspirants were expected to pay ₦60 million for Expression of Interest and Nomination forms, while governorship aspirants were billed ₦30 million.
Senate aspirants were to pay ₦8 million, House of Representatives aspirants ₦6 million, while State House of Assembly aspirants were expected to pay ₦2.5 million.
The party also said female aspirants would receive a 50 per cent discount, while persons living with disabilities would pay only 25 per cent of the prescribed fees.
