The Nigeria Democratic Congress has clarified that its presidential, National Assembly, governorship and state assembly primaries will still hold nationwide on May 29 despite adjustments caused by the Eid-el-Kabir holidays.
The party stated that the decision became necessary due to transportation and logistical disruptions triggered by the festive period, including flight unavailability, which left many aspirants and members of the screening committee stranded in Abuja after the screening exercise.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, the NDC National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, explained that May 28 would now be devoted to arrivals, documentation with the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies, consultative meetings and other preparatory activities ahead of the primaries.
According to him, party teams deployed to the states are also expected to use the day for engagements with stakeholders, elders and aspirants.
Cleopas, however, warned that no state institution or security agency, including the Police, DSS and INEC, is expected to participate in any of the May 28 activities. He added that any action outside the approved guidelines would be considered illegal and unauthorised.
“The primaries are still scheduled to be held nationwide on May 29, 2026, in keeping with the original May 28 and 29 timetable,” he said.
“However, in view of the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations and the resulting public holidays, major transportation and logistical challenges have arisen, including the non-availability of flights. Consequently, many aspirants who were in Abuja for the screening exercise, as well as members of the screening team, are currently stranded in Abuja.”
Cleopas outlined the sequence for the May 29 exercises as presidential affirmation, National Assembly primaries or affirmations, State Assembly primaries or affirmations, and governorship primaries or affirmations.
The party further directed that all results from the states must be collated and transmitted to the party’s national headquarters for announcement by the National Working Committee.
“The respective teams will collate and process all results and forward them to the National Headquarters, where the National Working Committee will announce the results. No state executive or team has the mandate to announce any results,” the statement added.
The NDC chair also appealed to members and aspirants to remain peaceful and orderly throughout the exercise, stressing that the party would not tolerate violence, disorderly conduct or hooliganism during the primaries.
