ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has been cleared by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), to contest the party’s presidential primary ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The clearance was announced on Wednesday by the Chairman of the NDC National Screening Committee and former Ebonyi State governor, Sam Egwu, in a video shared on the party’s official X account.
Egwu said the committee was satisfied that Obi met all constitutional and statutory requirements needed to contest the presidential election under the platform of the NDC.
“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,” Egwu stated.
The screening exercise took place in Abuja on Tuesday, with Obi arriving at the party’s national secretariat shortly after members of the screening committee assembled for the exercise.
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Reacting through his official X account, Obi disclosed that the screening lasted more than two and a half hours, during which the committee examined his credentials and questioned him on his plans 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,” Obi said.
“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 added.
The former Labour Party presidential candidate also commended the screening committee and the leadership of the NDC for what he described as a transparent and credible 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,” Obi stated.
The development comes amid ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general election, as opposition parties intensify consultations, coalition talks and preparations for party primaries.
Obi currently remains the sole presidential aspirant of the NDC after the party officially closed the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms for the presidency.
However, the party extended the deadline for aspirants seeking tickets into the State Houses of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate and governorship positions.
In a statement signed by the party’s National Secretary, Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu, the NDC said the deadline for collecting expression of interest forms for other elective positions had been moved from May 17 to midnight of May 24, 2026.
The party added that screening of aspirants would continue until May 26, while collection and return of nomination forms for cleared aspirants would also close on May 26.