The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has confirmed that its presidential, governorship, National Assembly and state assembly primaries will hold nationwide on May 29 despite disruptions caused by the Eid-el-Kabir holidays.
The party said logistical challenges arising from the public holidays, particularly limited flight availability, had left several aspirants and members of its screening committees stranded in Abuja after participating in screening exercises ahead of the primaries.
In a statement jointly signed by the party’s National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, and National Secretary, Barrister Ikenna Alex-Morgan Enekweizu, the NDC announced adjustments to activities earlier scheduled for May 28.
According to the statement, May 28 will now be dedicated to consultations, documentation and other preparatory engagements, while the actual primaries will take place on May 29 in line with the party’s original timetable.
“The primaries are still scheduled to hold nationwide on May 29, 2026, in keeping with the original May 28 and 29 timetable,” the statement said.
The party explained that May 28 would be used for the arrival of delegates and officials, documentation with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies, consultative meetings and other administrative preparations across the states.
It added that party officials would also engage stakeholders, elders and aspirants in consultations ahead of the primaries.
The NDC, however, cautioned that no state institutions or security agencies, including the police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and INEC, were expected to participate in activities linked to the May 28 meetings and consultations.
The party warned that any programme or activity outside the approved guidelines would be regarded as “unauthorised and illegal”.
It also outlined the sequence for the May 29 exercise, stating that the presidential affirmation would hold first, followed by National Assembly primaries or affirmations, state assembly primaries or affirmations, and governorship primaries or affirmations.
According to the party, results from across the states would be collated and transmitted to the national headquarters, where the National Working Committee (NWC) would officially announce the outcomes.
“No state executive or team has the mandate to announce any results,” the statement added.
The NDC appealed to aspirants, delegates and supporters to conduct themselves peacefully during the exercise, stressing that violence, disorderly conduct and hooliganism would not be tolerated.
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