The Nigeria Democratic Congress has constituted a 20-member National Selection Committee to oversee the screening and selection of aspirants seeking the party’s governorship and National Assembly tickets ahead of the 2026 elections.
The decision was disclosed on Friday in Abuja in a statement issued by the party’s National Secretary, Ikenna Enekweizu.
Enekweizu said the committee was approved by the party’s National Leader following recommendations from the National Working Committee as part of preparations for the forthcoming primaries.
According to him, the committee is mandated to review and consider reports from the National Screening Committee and make final decisions on the eligibility of all aspirants.
“This process is designed to promote consensus-building and ensure the emergence of widely acceptable candidates through a free, fair, and credible mechanism,” he said.
He added that only aspirants cleared by the National Selection Committee would be eligible to purchase nomination forms for the party’s primaries.
The party appointed Moses Cleopas as chairman of the committee, while Enekweizu will serve as secretary.
Other members include Babatunde Ali, Sidi Bomi, Mohammed Zuwo, Dr Danlami Arabs, Fredrick Owotorufa, Teddy Obey, Barnabas J. Ejisi, Adedayo Ekong, Yunusa Tanko, Moses Paul, Buba Galadima, Aminu Abdulsalam, Danladi Abdulhamid, Udenta Udenta, Reuben Egwuaba, Dudu Manuga, Dr Grace Onyekusiobi and Shittu Mohammed.
Enekweizu said the arrangement was aimed at encouraging consensus among aspirants and strengthening unity within the party ahead of the primaries.
He noted that where consensus efforts fail, the party would conduct direct primaries between May 28 and May 30 in line with its electoral guidelines.
The statement reiterated that the process was designed to promote internal harmony and ensure credible and widely acceptable candidates emerge for the 2026 elections.
