The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced a change in the dates for its presidential and governorship primary elections, as part of adjustments to its timetable for the 2027 general elections. The decision was made during the 186th meeting of the party’s National Working Committee held in Abuja.
Speaking after the meeting, the APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Duro Meseko, confirmed that the presidential primary election, earlier scheduled for May 15 and 16, will now take place on May 23, 2026. He also said the governorship primaries have been moved to May 21, 2026.
The changes are part of a broader revision of the party’s schedule, which includes adjustments to the screening of aspirants, submission of forms, and appeals processes. According to Meseko, the new timetable is in line with Nigeria’s electoral laws and the schedule released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He explained that the party reviewed its earlier plans to ensure full compliance with the Electoral Act 2026 and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.
“We now have a new revised timetable in accordance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act, as well as INEC’s schedule for the 2027 general elections,” Meseko said.
Under the new timetable, the sale of nomination forms will begin on April 25 and end on May 2, 2026. Aspirants are expected to submit their completed forms and required documents on or before May 4, 2026.
Screening of aspirants for various elective positions, including State Houses of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, and presidential positions, will take place between May 6 and May 9, 2026. The results of the screening are expected to be published on May 11, while appeals will be handled between May 12 and May 13.
The party also outlined a detailed schedule for its primary elections. According to the revised plan, House of Representatives primaries will be held on May 15, Senate primaries on May 18, and State House of Assembly primaries on May 20. Governorship primaries will follow on May 21, while the presidential primary will now take place on May 23.
Meseko added that appeal committees will sit shortly after each category of primaries to address any disputes that may arise. For example, appeals from the presidential primary will be heard on May 25, 2026.
The announcement comes at a critical time as political parties across Nigeria begin to organise their internal processes ahead of the 2027 elections. The timetable released by INEC requires all parties to complete their primaries and resolve disputes within a fixed window.
INEC has scheduled party primaries to take place between April 23 and May 30, 2026. This means parties must carefully plan their activities to meet the deadline and avoid disqualification of candidates.
In addition to adjusting its primary election dates, the APC also released a timetable for ward, local government, and state congresses in Zamfara State. These congresses, which are part of the party’s internal structure, will begin on April 28, 2026.
According to Meseko, the screening of aspirants for ward executive positions will take place on April 29, followed by ward congresses on April 30. Appeals arising from the ward and local government congresses will be handled on May 1, while appeals from state congresses will be addressed on May 3.
Another key decision announced by the APC is the adoption of two methods for selecting candidates: direct primaries and consensus. Both methods are recognised under the Electoral Act.
Direct primaries allow all registered party members to vote for their preferred candidates, while consensus involves party leaders and stakeholders agreeing on a single candidate, usually to avoid internal conflicts.
Meseko explained that aspirants are free to choose their preferred method, in line with the law.
“In this meeting, we adopted the modes of primaries as provided in the Electoral Act: direct and consensus. Aspirants are free to decide their preference,” he said.
He added that where consensus is agreed upon by all aspirants, it will stand. However, if any aspirant rejects the consensus arrangement, the process will automatically revert to direct primaries.
This clarification comes amid concerns in some quarters about the use of consensus arrangements by political parties. Critics argue that consensus can sometimes be used to impose candidates, while supporters say it helps to reduce tension and save costs.
Meseko also addressed rumours that the party planned to restrict access to nomination forms. He dismissed the claims, stating that the forms are available to all interested aspirants.
“I am here to inform all party faithful and aspirants that nomination forms are available for all and not reserved for any individual,” he said.
The APC’s preparations are taking place within the broader framework set by INEC for the 2027 elections. According to the commission, presidential and National Assembly elections will be held on January 16, 2027, while governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
INEC has also fixed dates for the start of election campaigns. Campaigns for presidential and National Assembly elections will begin on August 19, 2026, while campaigns for governorship and State Assembly elections will start on September 9, 2026.
These timelines are important because they guide political parties in planning their activities, including candidate selection, campaign strategies, and voter mobilisation.
In Nigeria’s political system, party primaries play a crucial role in determining who will contest elections. The process often attracts significant attention because it shapes the choices available to voters during the general election.
In the past, disputes arising from party primaries have led to court cases and, in some instances, the disqualification of candidates. This has made it important for parties to conduct transparent and credible primaries.
For the APC, the revised timetable is expected to provide enough time to complete all necessary processes within the window set by INEC. However, the party will need to manage its internal affairs carefully to avoid conflicts among aspirants.
As the political season gathers momentum, attention will be on how the APC and other parties conduct their primaries and whether they can meet the expectations of their members and the wider public.