The All Progressives Congress (APC) has postponed its presidential primary election, earlier slated for May 15 and 16, to May 23, 2026, while the governorship primaries will now hold on May 21, 2026, in line with a revised timetable for its 2027 general election activities.
Duro Meseko, APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, disclosed this at the conclusion of the 186th National Working Committee meeting in Abuja on Thursday, announcing changes to the previous schedule, including the postponement of key processes such as aspirant screening and appeals consideration.
Meseko further revealed that the screening of aspirants, which was originally slated for May 6 to May 8, including the presidential screening on May 9, had been delayed.
Disclosing the adjustment to the APC 2027 schedule of activities, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary stated, “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 and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections.
“We hereby present the new revised timetable and schedule of activities for the conduct of the 2027 general elections to the press.
“Notice had already been given to state chapters on Monday, 20th April. Sales of forms will commence this Saturday, 25th April, to Saturday, 2nd May, 2026. The last day for submission of completed forms and accompanying documents is now Monday, 4th May, 2026. Screening of aspirants—House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, Governorship, and Presidential—will be held as follows: Wednesday, 6th May, to Friday, 8th May, 2026, for House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, and Governorship screening, respectively. Saturday, 9th May, 2026, is the screening for presidential aspirants.
“Publication of screening results for State House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, Governorship, and Presidential will be held on Monday, 11th May, 2026. Screening appeals will be handled by the appeal committees from Tuesday, 12th May, to Wednesday, 13th May, 2026, for the State House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, Governorship, and Presidential.
“Primary elections of the All Progressives Congress commence as follows: Friday, 15th May, 2026: House of Representatives primary elections. Monday, 18th May, 2026: Senate primary elections. Wednesday, 20th May, 2026: State House of Assembly primary elections. Thursday, 21st May, 2026: Governorship primary elections.
Saturday, 23rd May, 2026: Presidential primary elections.”
He disclosed that the post-primary appeal committees will sit on Monday, 18th May, 2026, for the House of Representatives; Wednesday, 20th May, 2026, for the Senate; Thursday, 21st May, 2026, for the State House of Assembly; Saturday, 23rd May, 2026, for the governorship; and Monday, 25th May, 2026, for the presidency.
He continued, “That is one of the resolutions today. The second is the schedule of activities and timetable for the 2026 ward, LGA, and state congresses in Zamfara State, beginning Tuesday, 28th April, 2026. The ward congresses, LGA congresses, and state congresses will commence on that date.
“Screening of aspirants for ward executive positions will follow on Wednesday, 29th April, 2026. Ward congresses will be held on Thursday, 30th April, 2026. Appeals from ward screening and ward congresses will be held on Friday, 1st May, 2026. Appeals arising from LGA congresses and screening of state executive members will also be held on the same day. Appeals arising from state congresses will be held on Sunday, 3rd May, 2026. That is the timetable for the congresses in Zamfara State.”
He explained that the party has chosen candidates for elective seats using one of the two primary election modalities specified in the 2026 Electoral Act: direct primary or consensus.
Meseko added, “In this 186th meeting of the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress, we adopted the mode of primaries as provided in the Electoral Act: direct and consensus mode, with a caveat that members are at liberty to pick.
“That is, aspirants are free to decide their preference in accordance with the Electoral Act. Where consensus works, it stands, and where an aspirant does not agree to consensus, it automatically reverts to direct primaries.
“There was also a rumor that forms would be restricted or limited to certain individuals. I am here to inform all party faithful and aspirants that nomination forms for all aspirants seeking offices under the All Progressives Congress are available for all, not exclusively reserved for any individual.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled the presidential and national assembly elections for Saturday, January 16, 2027, with the governorship and state houses of assembly elections taking place on Saturday, February 6, 2027.
The panel also stated that party primaries, including dispute settlement, will take place between April 23, 2026, and May 30, 2026.
According to INEC, campaigns for the presidential and national assembly elections will begin on August 19, 2026, with governorship and state houses of assembly elections beginning on September 9, 2026.
