The All Progressives Congress has rescheduled its presidential primary election to Saturday, May 23, 2026, from the earlier May 15–16 dates, as part of adjustments to its timetable for the 2027 general elections.
The revised schedule also fixes governorship primaries for Thursday, May 21, 2026, alongside a reordering of other key pre-election activities.
The party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Duro Meseko, announced the changes in Abuja on Thursday, April 23, 2026, following the 186th National Working Committee meeting, stating that the review aligns with the Electoral Act 2026 and the timetable issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Under the updated programme, the sale of nomination forms will run from April 25 to May 2, 2026, while submission of completed forms closes on May 4, 2026.
Screening of aspirants for State Houses of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate and governorship positions is scheduled for May 6 to May 8, with presidential screening fixed for May 9.
Results will be released on May 11, followed by appeals on May 12 and May 13.
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Primary elections will be conducted in phases: House of Representatives on May 15, Senate on May 18, and State Houses of Assembly on May 20, 2026, before the governorship and presidential primaries on May 21 and May 23 respectively.
Post-primary appeals are expected to run between May 18 and May 25, 2026, depending on the category of election.
The party also approved a separate timetable for ward, local government and state congresses in Zamfara State, beginning April 28, 2026, with ward congresses slated for April 30 and appeals concluding on May 3, 2026.
On the mode of primaries, the APC said it will adopt both direct and consensus options as provided under the Electoral Act 2026, allowing aspirants to choose, with unresolved consensus arrangements defaulting to direct primaries.
Meseko dismissed speculation about restricted access to nomination forms, maintaining that the process remains open to all qualified aspirants.
Meanwhile, INEC has fixed January 16, 2027, for presidential and National Assembly elections, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly polls will hold on February 6, 2027.
The commission also scheduled party primaries and dispute resolution between April 23 and May 30, 2026, with campaigns set to commence on August 19 and September 9, 2026, respectively.