The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced that its nationwide presidential, governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly primaries will now fully hold on May 29, 2026, amid fresh directives centralising the conduct and announcement of results at the party’s national headquarters.
The party, in a statement jointly signed by National Chairman, Moses Cleopas, and National Secretary, Ikenna Alex-Morgan Enekweizu, said the adjustment became necessary due to logistical disruptions caused by the Eid-el-Kabir public holidays.
According to the statement, transportation difficulties and flight cancellations left many aspirants and members of the party’s screening committees stranded in Abuja after the screening exercise.
The NDC explained that May 28 would now be reserved strictly for arrivals, documentation with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), consultations with stakeholders and preparatory meetings ahead of the primaries.
“The actual primaries will now hold on May 29,” the statement said.
The party disclosed that teams deployed to various states would spend May 28 holding meetings with stakeholders, party elders and aspirants before the commencement of voting and affirmations.
In what observers see as a major move to tightly control the process, the NDC also directed that no state chapter or electoral team would be allowed to announce results from the primaries.
“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,” the party stated.
“No state executive or team has the mandate to announce any results.”
The party further warned that security agencies and electoral officials must not participate in any activities scheduled for May 28, insisting that only the officially approved consultations and preparatory engagements were recognised by the party.
“No agencies of the state, viz: Police, INEC, DSS, etc., are to play any role in the programmes and meetings of May 28,” the statement added.
“Any activities carried out outside these guidelines would be unauthorized and deemed illegal.”
According to the party, the order of proceedings for the May 29 exercise will include presidential affirmation, National Assembly primaries and affirmations, State Assembly primaries and affirmations, as well as governorship primaries and affirmations.
The NDC leadership also appealed to aspirants and party members to maintain order during the exercise, stressing that the party would not tolerate violence or disruption.
“We call for understanding and urge all participants to conduct themselves responsibly, as the party has zero tolerance for violence, disorderly conduct, and hooliganism,” the statement added.
