The All Progressives Congress (APC) has rescheduled its presidential primary election to May 23, 2026, from the earlier dates of May 15 and 16, as part of adjustments to its timetable for the 2027 general elections.
The party also fixed its governorship primaries for May 21, 2026, alongside revised dates for other nomination processes, following deliberations at the 186th National Working Committee (NWC) meeting held in Abuja.
APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Duro Meseko, who briefed journalists after the meeting, said the changes were in line with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He disclosed that the sale of nomination forms would run from April 25 to May 2, while the deadline for submission has been fixed for May 4, 2026. Screening of aspirants across all categories, including presidential hopefuls, has also been rescheduled, with the presidential screening slated for May 9.
According to the revised timetable, primary elections will begin with the House of Representatives on May 15, followed by the Senate on May 18, State Houses of Assembly on May 20, governorship on May 21, and the presidential primary on May 23.
Meseko added that the party would adopt both direct and consensus modes of primaries, noting that while consensus would be encouraged, any disagreement among aspirants would automatically trigger direct primaries.
He also dismissed claims that nomination forms were being reserved for select individuals, insisting that the process remains open to all qualified aspirants.
Meanwhile, the electoral body has scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, with governorship and State Assembly polls to follow on February 6. It also fixed the window for party primaries and dispute resolution between April 23 and May 30, 2026.
In a related development, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is currently meeting with APC governors at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, in what observers see as a strategic consultation ahead of the party’s primaries.
The meeting, holding at the Council Chamber, comes barely three weeks before the commencement of the party’s nomination contests.
Governors in attendance include Babagana Zulum, Hope Uzodimma, Hyacinth Alia, Inuwa Yahaya, Biodun Oyebanji, Peter Mbah,
