NDC insists primaries will hold May 29 despite Eid-el-Kabir holidays

The Nigeria Democratic Congress has said 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 the adjustment became necessary due to transportation and logistical challenges arising from the festive period, including flight unavailability, which affected the movement of aspirants and members of the screening committee after the screening exercise in Abuja.

 

In a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, the National Chairman of the party, Senator Moses Cleopas, explained that May 28 would now be used for 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 officials deployed to the states are also expected to use the day for consultations with stakeholders, elders and aspirants.

 

Cleopas, however, warned that no state institution or security agency, including the Police, DSS and INEC, should participate in any activity scheduled for May 28 outside the approved guidelines.

 

He stated that any action outside the authorised framework would be regarded as illegal.

 

“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.”

 

The party chairman outlined the order of activities for the primaries to include presidential affirmation, National Assembly primaries or affirmations, State Assembly primaries or affirmations, and governorship primaries or affirmations.

 

He added that all results from the states must be collated and forwarded to the party’s national headquarters for official 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.

 

Cleopas also urged members and aspirants to remain peaceful and orderly throughout the exercise, warning that the party would not tolerate violence, hooliganism or disorderly conduct during the primaries.