PNC to hold local council primaries on December 27

The ruling People's National Congress (PNC) has officially announced that it will conduct its primary on December 27 to determine its candidates for the Local Council Elections scheduled for April 4, 2026.

During a press conference held at the party’s headquarters, Campaign Manager and Parliamentary Group Leader Ibrahim Falah stated that the primary will be held in constituencies where multiple members have applied for the party ticket. This follows an application window that ran from December 1 to December 15, which saw a high volume of interest from party members across the country.

"In the period leading up to the party's submission of forms to the Elections Commission, the primary will first be held on the 27th of this month for all constituencies where a primary is necessary. Candidates in those districts where a primary will take place are now in anticipation of that date," Falah stated.

Falah underscored the party’s dedication to ensuring that the internal election remains transparent and fair for all participants.

To maintain this integrity, the PNC has established a direct complaint mechanism through WhatsApp and Viber, the details of which will be provided to all candidates to ensure any grievances are addressed promptly.

At present, the party is actively vetting applicants to confirm their eligibility and finalize the list of constituencies where a primary vote is necessary versus those where candidates may run unopposed.

"Therefore, if they have any complaints or issues during the election, they can submit them through that number via Viber or WhatsApp, and our party will receive those grievances," Falah stated.

The announcement comes amid a significant surge in the party’s political footprint, with membership figures now reportedly exceeding 70,000.

Once the internal primary process is complete and candidates are finalized, the party will move forward with the official submission of candidate forms to the Elections Commission.