Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), one of the country’s fastest‑growing opposition parties, has released the fee schedule for its 2027 primary elections, setting the price of presidential nomination and expression of interest forms at N60 million, while governorship aspirants will pay N30 million. The party also announced that female aspirants will receive a 50% discount across all categories, while persons with disabilities (PWDs) will pay only 25% of the prescribed fees. The sale of forms is scheduled to run from May 13 to May 18, 2026, according to a statement issued by the NDC National Chairman, Moses Cleopas.
The NDC, which has emerged as a major opposition platform following the defection of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, is positioning itself as a formidable contender in the 2027 general elections. The party’s primary schedule indicates that the presidential primary will hold in Abuja on May 29, 2026. The party also advised aspirants to attend the planned screening exercise with their relevant credentials and supporting documents.
The fee structure places the NDC’s presidential nomination cost at par with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which charges N100 million for its presidential expression of interest and nomination forms combined (N30 million and N70 million respectively). The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had also previously charged N40 million for its presidential nomination form in the 2022 cycle, though the party remains embroiled in a leadership crisis that has left its 2027 plans uncertain. The NDC’s decision to offer significant discounts for women and PWDs is seen as a deliberate strategy to encourage greater inclusion and diversity within its candidate pool, as well as to appeal to a broader electorate.
Political analysts have noted that the NDC’s form prices, while substantial, are still lower than those of the APC and reflect the party’s attempt to balance revenue generation with accessibility. However, critics have pointed out that even the discounted fees remain prohibitive for many qualified Nigerians, reinforcing the perception that politics is a game reserved for the wealthy. The party has not announced whether it will offer payment plans or other forms of financial assistance to indigent aspirants.
The NDC’s emergence has been marked by high drama, with the defection of Obi and Kwankwaso from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and their formal reception into the NDC in early May 2026. The party claims to have registered over 10 million new members in the days following the defections, though the figure remains unverified. The party has also zoned its presidential ticket to the South for a single term, with Kwankwaso indicating his readiness to serve as running mate to a southern candidate, most likely Peter Obi. The NDC’s ability to raise the substantial sums required for a nationwide campaign will be tested in the coming months.
As the sale of forms gets underway, all eyes are on the NDC to see whether it can translate its media hype into a credible grassroots organisation capable of challenging the APC in 2027. The party’s primary elections will be closely watched for signs of internal cohesion or fractures, as the coalition of Obi’s Obidient movement and Kwankwaso’s Kwankwasiyya structure remains untested at the ballot box.
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