By: Mandy Park
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced special discounts on its nomination and expression of interest forms for women, youths and persons living with disabilities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party said the move was part of its commitment to promoting inclusiveness and encouraging wider participation in Nigeria’s democratic process.
In a statement issued by the party’s National Secretary, Barrister Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu, the NDC said it was determined to ensure that women, young people and persons with disabilities were not excluded from contesting elective positions because of financial or social barriers.
According to Enekweizu, the party believes that young Nigerians and persons living with disabilities should be given the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to nation-building irrespective of their financial status or physical condition.
He also noted that women have historically faced cultural and structural limitations in politics, stressing that affirmative action had become necessary to encourage greater female participation in governance and leadership.
The NDC scribe stated that the party would be “short-changing itself” if women, who make up a significant percentage of the population, were not adequately represented in the democratic process.
He disclosed that all female aspirants seeking elective offices on the platform of the NDC would pay only 50 per cent of the approved fees for both the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms.
Similarly, aspirants between the ages of 18 and 35 are also to enjoy a 50 per cent discount on the forms, while persons living with disabilities will pay only 25 per cent of the advertised fees.
The statement further clarified that nomination forms for presidential, governorship and National Assembly positions would be obtained at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, while forms for State Houses of Assembly positions would be collected from NDC offices in the respective states.
The development comes as political parties begin early preparations and consultations ahead of the 2027 general elections, with increasing calls for greater inclusion of women and young people in Nigeria’s political space.
