NDC, LP Prepare Candidate Lists As Parties Await INEC Portal Opening

According to Ireporter Online, the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) has concluded its presidential primaries and declared its readiness to upload the names of its successful candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination portal ahead of the deadline for submission of party lists.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, disclosed that the NDC had already complied with the electoral guidelines by forwarding its list to INEC, noting that successful aspirants had been contacted and issued nomination forms to complete the process.

He maintained that publishing the list of candidates in newspapers was not a constitutional requirement, stressing that the essential duty of political parties was to submit names directly to the electoral body.

“It is not compulsory for you to publish a list of candidates. What the constitution expects you to do by the guidelines of the Electoral Act is to send your list to INEC. And we have done so,” he said, adding that internal party communication with candidates was ongoing and similar practices were adopted by other major political parties.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party (LP) confirmed that it is on track to meet INEC’s submission deadline, with its National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, revealing that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) is scheduled to meet later in the week to ratify its final nomination list before transmission to the electoral commission.

Asogwa explained that consultations were still ongoing regarding the selection of a running mate for the party’s presidential candidate, Chibuzo Okereke, expressing confidence that the issue would be resolved shortly.

He further stated that the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which has retained its 2023 presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo, is also engaging in wide consultations to determine a suitable vice-presidential nominee, aimed at ensuring broad acceptance within the party structure.

The SDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, confirmed that discussions were ongoing and assured that a consensus candidate would soon be unveiled after consultations across the party’s leadership.

So far, only the NDC has formally announced a running mate, with its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, selecting former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his vice-presidential candidate following his emergence as the party’s flag bearer for the 2027 general elections.

Obi and Kwankwaso reportedly joined the NDC from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing internal divisions and unresolved legal disputes within their former political platform.