Former Peter Obi has been officially cleared to contest in the presidential primary of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of the 2027 general election.
The announcement was made by the chairman of the party’s National Screening Committee, Sam Egwu, after the screening exercise held in Abuja.
According to Egwu, the committee confirmed that Obi satisfied all constitutional and legal requirements needed to participate in the party’s presidential primary.
“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, he is hereby cleared to contest in the presidential primaries of the party,” Egwu stated.
Reacting after the screening, Obi disclosed that the exercise lasted more than two and a half hours, during which members of the committee reviewed his academic certificates, NYSC documents, age declaration, and questioned him on his vision for Nigeria.
The former Anambra State governor praised the committee for what he described as a transparent and professional process, while also commending the party leadership for upholding internal democracy.
Obi formally joined the NDC on May 3 after leaving the Labour Party and later exiting the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as part of efforts to build a stronger opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.
The party has recently gained momentum with the arrival of several prominent political figures, including former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
The NDC has already zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria for a single four-year term, with plans for power to rotate back to the North in 2031.
Obi remains the only aspirant so far to publicly confirm purchasing the party’s presidential nomination form, placing him in a strong position ahead of the primaries scheduled to hold in Abuja between May 27 and May 29, 2026.
