The All Progressives Congress has postponed its presidential primary election to 23 May 2026, while governorship primaries will now hold on 21 May 2026, following a revised schedule for the party’s 2027 general election activities.
The APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Duro Meseko, announced the changes after the 186th National Working Committee meeting in Abuja on Thursday. The adjustments affect key processes, including the screening of aspirants and the consideration of appeals.
Screening of aspirants, originally scheduled for 6 to 8 May, has been rescheduled. Presidential screening, previously set for 9 May, will also take place on a new date.
Presenting the revised timetable, Meseko said: “We now have a new revised timetable in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act 2026, and the Independent National Electoral Commission’s revised timetable for the 2027 general elections.”
Key dates in the new APC schedule:
· Sale of forms: 25 April to 2 May 2026
· Submission deadline for completed forms: 4 May 2026
· Screening (House of Assembly, Reps, Senate, Governorship): 6–8 May 2026
· Presidential screening: 9 May 2026
· Publication of screening results: 11 May 2026
· Screening appeals: 12–13 May 2026
· House of Representatives primaries: 15 May 2026
· Senate primaries: 18 May 2026
· State House of Assembly primaries: 20 May 2026
· Governorship primaries: 21 May 2026
· Presidential primaries: 23 May 2026
Post-primary appeal committees will sit on various dates between 18 and 25 May 2026.
The party also released a separate timetable for ward, local government, and state congresses in Zamfara State, beginning 28 April 2026.
Meseko confirmed that the APC has adopted the two modes of primary elections provided in the 2026 Electoral Act: direct primary and consensus. “Where consensus works, it stands, and where an aspirant does not agree to consensus, it automatically reverts to direct primaries,” he said.
He also dismissed rumours that nomination forms would be restricted, stating: “Nomination forms for all aspirants seeking offices under the APC are available for all, not exclusively reserved for any individual.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed the presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, 16 January 2027, and governorship and state assembly elections for Saturday, 6 February 2027. Party primaries and dispute resolutions are scheduled to take place between 23 April and 30 May 2026.
