FORMER Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has been cleared to participate in the presidential primary of the Nigeria Democratic Congress ahead of the 2027 general election.
The announcement was made today by the chairman of the party’s National Screening Committee, Sam Egwu, following the screening exercise held in Abuja yesterday.
Egwu stated that the committee was satisfied that Obi met all constitutional and legal requirements necessary to contest the presidency under the party’s platform.
According to him, the former Anambra State governor successfully complied with the provisions of the party’s constitution, the Electoral Act, and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
He added that Obi provided satisfactory responses to questions raised by members of the screening committee regarding his eligibility and leadership vision for the country.
Reacting to the development through his official X account, Obi disclosed that the screening process lasted more than two and a half hours, during which members of the committee carefully reviewed his credentials, including his academic certificates, NYSC documents, and age declaration records.
The former presidential candidate said he was also questioned extensively on his vision for a “new Nigeria” and the kind of leadership the country urgently requires.
Following the exercise, Obi confirmed that he was officially cleared and subsequently received the party’s presidential nomination form, which he had already purchased.
He also praised the screening committee, led by Egwu, for what he described as a thorough, credible, and professional process, while commending the party leadership for upholding democratic principles.
Obi formally joined the NDC on May 3 after leaving the Labour Party and subsequently exiting the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as part of ongoing efforts to build a broader opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.
The party has recently attracted several prominent political figures, including former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Meanwhile, the NDC has zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South for a single four-year term, with plans for the presidency to return to the North in 2031.
So far, Obi remains the only aspirant to publicly confirm the purchase of the party’s presidential nomination form, placing him in a strong position ahead of the primary election.
The NDC is expected to conduct its presidential and other primary elections in Abuja between May 27 and May 29, 2026, as preparations intensify for the 2027 general election.
