NDC Submits Candidate Lists to Electoral Body by Deadline After Resolving Internal Disputes

The NDC registered in February 2026 and selected Mr Obi as its presidential candidate and Mr Kwankwaso as running mate after primaries concluded around late May. The party has faced multiple complaints of irregularities in many states and disagreements over a proposed 60-40 power-sharing formula in Kano. Mr Dickson, a former Bayelsa governor, met with Mr Obi on 12 June.

After the meeting, Mr Dickson announced that they had "amicably resolved all the issues" and urged members to "stop the bickering and name-calling" and focus on 2027. Mr Dickson also publicly criticised the Obidient Movement, saying the party was doing Mr Obi a favour and should be commended and respected.

In Abia State, the chair of the NDC Primary Election Committee submitted a candidate list directly to INEC on 30 May without routing it through national leadership.

As of Monday, neither the ADC nor the NDC has published its full candidate lists. Both parties were absent from INEC’s cleared candidate list for the 20 June bye-elections. INEC access codes for the nomination portal become available from 27 June, and the deadline for submission of presidential and National Assembly candidates is 11 July at midnight.

The ADC has faced lingering court disputes over nominations. INEC maintains it does not intervene in internal party affairs. Mr Dickson blamed the Electoral Act’s mandatory direct primaries for many irregularities.