The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced that its presidential campaign will kick off in October. This move comes as the party prepares for the 2027 general elections. The NDC has also commenced preparations for the deployment of party agents, directing its state and local government chairmen to compile and harmonize lists of agents for the presidential, National Assembly, governorship, and State Assembly elections.
The directive, signed by Osa Director, Esq., on behalf of the party, requires state and LGA chairmen to convene meetings with candidates and stakeholders to collate and harmonize the list of party agents. This is in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026. The National Executive Committee (NEC) has instructed all state and LGA chairmen to take immediate action in this regard.
The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, and the campaign period opened on August 19, 2026. The NDC directive requires the party to prepare two categories of agents: one for the National Assembly elections and another for the governorship and State Assembly elections. The lists must be scrutinized and ratified by the party leadership before the commencement of training.
The party has given its state and LGA structures two weeks to complete the exercise and submit the final lists. The final list of agents must be counter-signed by the relevant state chairman and candidates to authenticate the names and establish ownership of the lists. In cases of disagreements, the candidate's choice will prevail.
The development comes as political parties enter the formal campaign period for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections. INEC's revised timetable fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly polls, while the governorship and State Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
Although political parties and candidates have engaged in various political activities and mobilisation ahead of the elections, the NDC's latest directive focuses on the operational structures required for election-day representation. The party claims it is prepared for a robust, issue-based campaign, with necessary structures being put in place across the country.
The NDC urged its members, supporters, and stakeholders to comply with the directive and cooperate with party structures in completing the agent-selection exercise within the stipulated two-week period. Notably, the party is yet to publicly unveil a comprehensive membership of its presidential campaign organisation, despite being within the statutory period for presidential campaigning.
Key points
- The NDC party will start its presidential campaign in October.
- The party has directed states to compile party agents for the 2027 general elections.
- The NDC aims to ensure its agents are properly positioned across polling units and other stages of the electoral process.
