If you’ve been planning on a smooth run-up to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) primaries, the last few days have likely felt like a marathon in the sun. The party, led by National Chairman Moses Cleopas and National Secretary Barr. Ikenna Enekweizu, confirmed today that the original schedule for May 29 remains iron-clad. This reality persists even though half the party’s delegates and aspirants have been playing a high-stakes game of musical chairs in Abuja. They’ve been battling a total lack of flights and the usual holiday travel bottlenecks that followed the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has made clarifications regarding its scheduled presidential, National Assembly, governorship, and state assembly primaries. The primaries are still scheduled to hold nationwide on May 29, 2026, in keeping with the original May 28 and 29 timetable.
The party has turned today into a buffer zone. While the big show is set for tomorrow, today is strictly for the paperwork. Aspirants are meant to be spending their time today doing three things: settling in, meeting with local stakeholders, and finishing documentation with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security services. The party has put a giant 'Do Not Disturb' sign on this process. It’s explicitly warning that the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), or any other government agency should stay in their lane and keep away from these internal consultative meetings.
They’ve labeled any outside interference today as strictly illegal.
When tomorrow finally rolls around, the sequence of events is set in stone. The party will start with a presidential affirmation, followed by the National Assembly candidates, then the State Assembly hopefuls, and finally, the governorship candidates. Everything is centralized; the results aren't to be announced at the state level. Instead, the field teams are expected to transmit the figures to the National Working Committee (NWC) in the capital. That’s where the official winners will be named.
If any local branch tries to jump the gun and announce a result independently, they’re effectively flying off the handles and acting against party rules.
The party has rolled out its full list of electoral committee members who will act as the referees for this exercise. These individuals are tasked with ensuring the voting process—from the Senate seats down to the House of Assembly—doesn't descend into the chaos that typically haunts party primaries. For instance, Professor Osita Ogbu has been handed the reins for Anambra State, while Dr. Osusu Osusu will be steering the ship in Rivers State. In the capital, Chief Barnabas Ejisi is the man in charge of the FCT electoral process.
Other key appointments include Alhaji Sidi Abdul Bomi for Lagos, Dr. Peter Onigah for Ebonyi, and Barr. Fredrick Owotorufa, who is responsible for Edo State.
These committees carry a heavy burden because the party has drawn a hard line against the usual thuggery that defines political contests in this country. The leadership has made it clear that there’s zero tolerance for hooliganism or disorderly conduct. They’re betting that these appointed officials can keep the peace while navigating the logistical nightmare of a country where simply moving from one state to another often requires a miracle. With the 2027 general elections looming, the party is using these primaries to evaluate whether its internal structure can withstand the pressure of a national campaign.
Beyond the names already mentioned, the list of those managing the process spans every corner of the country. Dr. Kebiru Umoru is handling Delta, while Comrade Babatunde Ali has been assigned to Imo. In the northern states, the party has deployed Mainasara Sani Abubakar to Kano and Williams Lappi to Adamawa. Dr.
Clement Agiangie is taking charge of Akwa Ibom, while Dr. Okey Ezeala oversees the proceedings in Nasarawa. These men are now the face of the party's ambition. How they handle tomorrow’s logistics will dictate whether the NDC enters the next election cycle unified or fractured.