The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has insisted that its presidential, National Assembly, governorship and State Assembly primaries will still hold nationwide on May 29 despite disruptions caused by the Eid-el-Kabir holidays.
The party said transportation and logistical challenges linked to the festive period, including flight unavailability, forced an adjustment to its activities after many aspirants and members of the screening committee became stranded in Abuja following the screening exercise.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, NDC National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, said May 28 would now be used for arrivals, documentation with the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies, consultative meetings and other preparatory engagements ahead of the primaries.
According to the party, teams deployed to various states are also expected to use the day for meetings with stakeholders, elders and aspirants.
Cleopas, however, warned that no government institution or security agency, including the Police, DSS and INEC, should participate in any May 28 activities outside approved guidelines.
The statement added that any action outside the approved framework would be treated as illegal and unauthorised.
He said: “The primaries are still scheduled to be held nationwide on May 29, 2026, in keeping with the original May 28 and 29 timetable.
“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 said the sequence for the May 29 exercise would begin with presidential affirmation, followed by National Assembly primaries or affirmations, State Assembly primaries or affirmations and governorship primaries or affirmations.
The party also directed that all results from across the states must be forwarded to the national headquarters for official announcement by the National Working Committee.
He said: “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 NDC chairman further appealed to party members and aspirants to remain peaceful throughout the exercise, warning that the party would not tolerate violence, disorderly conduct or hooliganism during the primaries.
