The All Progressives Congress (APC) has released a revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections, setting out new dates for the sale of forms, screening of aspirants, and party primaries.
The announcement, made on Monday, signals the ruling party’s early preparations for the next general elections, as political activities gradually begin to gather pace across the country.
The timetable was issued from the party’s National Secretariat, Buhari House, in Abuja. It was signed by the APC National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Muhammad Argungu, and confirmed by the National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka.
In the notice, the party said the revised timetable aligns with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2026, and the guidelines released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 general elections.
According to the APC, the changes are aimed at improving coordination and ensuring smoother conduct of its internal processes, especially as it prepares to select candidates for various elective positions across the country.
Under the new schedule, the sale of Expression of Interest and Nomination forms will begin on April 25 and end on May 2, 2026. Aspirants are expected to submit their completed forms on or before May 4, 2026.
The party has fixed the screening of aspirants between May 6 and May 9, 2026. This exercise will cover all categories of aspirants, including those contesting for State Houses of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, and presidential positions.
Following the screening, appeals arising from the process, particularly for State House of Assembly and House of Representatives aspirants, will be handled between May 12 and May 13, 2026.
Primary elections, which will determine the party’s candidates for the 2027 polls, are scheduled to begin on May 15, 2026. The exercise will start with the House of Representatives primaries and continue with those for the Senate, State Houses of Assembly, governorship, and finally the presidential primary.
The primaries are expected to end on May 23, 2026.
The APC also announced the fees for the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms for different positions.
For State House of Assembly aspirants, the Expression of Interest form costs N1 million, while the Nomination form is N5 million. Aspirants for the House of Representatives are to pay N1 million for the Expression of Interest and N9 million for the Nomination form.
Senate aspirants will pay N3 million and N17 million respectively, while governorship aspirants are expected to pay N10 million for the Expression of Interest and N40 million for the Nomination form.
For the presidential ticket, the Expression of Interest form is priced at N30 million, while the Nomination form costs N70 million.
However, the party introduced concessions for certain groups. Female aspirants, youths, and persons living with disabilities are required to pay only for the Expression of Interest form and 50 per cent of the Nomination fee for their chosen positions.
Party officials say this measure is aimed at encouraging wider participation and inclusion in the political process.
To ensure transparency, the APC directed all aspirants to make payments into designated bank accounts belonging to the party.
The accounts listed include Union Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, and Zenith Bank Plc. The party stressed that all payments must be made in full and directly into these accounts.
The release of official payment channels is seen as part of efforts to reduce fraud and ensure that all financial transactions related to the purchase of forms are properly documented.
The announcement comes as political parties across Nigeria begin early preparations for the 2027 general elections. Although the elections are still some time away, party activities such as consultations, alignments and planning have already started.
The APC, which is currently the ruling party at the federal level, is expected to play a major role in the upcoming elections. Since coming to power in 2015, the party has remained one of the dominant political forces in the country.
In previous election cycles, disputes arising from party primaries have often led to court cases and internal crises. These issues sometimes weakened party cohesion and affected performance during the general elections.
By setting clear timelines and procedures, the APC appears to be trying to reduce such problems and ensure a smoother process.
The involvement of INEC guidelines is also important. The electoral body is responsible for overseeing elections in Nigeria and setting the framework within which political parties must operate.
Compliance with INEC’s timetable and regulations is necessary for parties to successfully field candidates in the general elections.
However, the reduction in fees for women, youths and persons with disabilities is seen as a positive step towards inclusion, although some observers argue that more needs to be done to lower the overall cost of political participation in Nigeria.
For aspirants, the timetable provides a clear roadmap for planning their campaigns and preparing for the primaries. It also signals the need for early mobilisation and engagement with party members and stakeholders.
As the political landscape begins to take shape, attention is expected to focus on key figures who may declare interest in various positions, particularly the presidential race.
With the release of the revised timetable, the APC has taken a major step in its preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Other political parties are also expected to unveil their own plans in the coming months, setting the stage for what could be another highly competitive election cycle.
For now, the focus remains on internal party processes, as aspirants begin to position themselves ahead of the primaries.
As Nigeria moves closer to 2027, issues such as governance, economy, security and development are likely to dominate political discussions, while parties work to present candidates who can win the support of voters.