APC Reschedules Presidential Primary to May 23, Releases Revised 2026–2027 Election Timetable
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has rescheduled its presidential primary election from May 15–16 to May 23, 2026, as part of a revised timetable for its 2027 general election preparations.
The party also moved its governorship primaries to May 21, 2026, alongside other adjustments to screening, appeals and congress activities.
The announcement was made in Abuja by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Duro Meseko, following the party’s 186th National Working Committee meeting held on Thursday.
Meseko said the revised schedule aligns with the Nigerian Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026, and the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“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 INEC revised timetable,” Meseko said.
According to the updated timetable, sale of nomination forms will begin on April 25 and end on May 2, 2026, while submission of completed forms will close on May 4.
Screening of aspirants for various positions—including State House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship and presidential tickets—will take place from May 6 to May 8, 2026.
Presidential screening is scheduled for May 9, while results will be released on May 11.
Appeals for screening outcomes will be heard between May 12 and May 13.
Primary elections will then proceed as follows: House of Representatives on May 15, Senate on May 18, State House of Assembly on May 20, governorship on May 21, and presidential primary on May 23, 2026.
Meseko also announced post-primary appeal timelines extending to May 25, 2026 for presidential candidates.
He added that the party has adopted both direct and consensus primary options, in line with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
“Aspirants are free to decide their preference. Where consensus works, it stands; where it fails, it reverts to direct primaries,” he said.
He dismissed speculation that nomination forms would be restricted to certain individuals, insisting that all aspirants are eligible to purchase forms.
Meanwhile, INEC has fixed the 2027 general election dates, with presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, and governorship and state assembly elections set for February 6, 2027.
The commission also stated that political party primaries, including dispute resolution processes, will run between April 23 and May 30, 2026.
Campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections are expected to begin on August 19, 2026, while campaigns for governorship and state assembly polls will commence on September 9, 2026.
Political analysts opined that the revised APC timetable signals an early and tightly structured preparation phase ahead of what is expected to be a highly competitive 2027 election cycle.