The All Progressives Congress (APC) has unveiled a revised timetable for its primaries and says it is working towards rancour free exercises across the states ahead of the next general election.
The move followed a major consultation meeting at the Presidential Villa between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and APC governors, where they reviewed preparations for the party’s candidate selection process.
From tomorrow, the party’s national secretariat and state offices are expected to come alive with the commencement of sale of Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to all eligible party members. The APC also confirmed that its electronic membership register has been transmitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in line with the Electoral Act, which restricts participation in primaries to members on the list.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other party leaders say early submission of the register places the APC ahead of INEC’s May 10 deadline for political parties to file their membership lists.
Deputy National Publicity Secretary Duro Meseko told reporters at the party’s Abuja secretariat that the sale of forms will run from tomorrow until May 2, while completed forms must be submitted by May 4. He also announced that, under the updated schedule, the presidential primary will now hold last, on May 23.
According to the revised timetable, the House of Representatives primaries will take place on Friday, May 15, the Senate primaries on Monday, May 18, House of Assembly primaries on Wednesday, May 20, and governorship primaries on Thursday, May 21.
Meseko said the adjustments were made to ensure full compliance with the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2026 and INEC guidelines. He noted that screening of aspirants, from state assembly hopefuls up to presidential contenders, will be conducted between May 6 and 9, with presidential aspirants to be screened on May 9 and results for all categories published on May 11.
He stressed that Expression of Interest and Nomination forms are open to all aspirants who meet the party’s criteria. On the mode of primaries, he explained that the National Working Committee (NWC) has approved both direct and consensus options as allowed by law, but insisted that any consensus arrangement must have the consent of all aspirants.
“Where there is consensus and an aspirant does not agree, it automatically reverts to direct primaries,” Meseko said, adding that state chapters have been empowered to decide which mode to adopt.
The NWC also moved to resolve internal leadership issues in Zamfara State by scheduling fresh ward, local government and state congresses. Ward congresses will start on April 30, with the state congress and appeals expected to be concluded by May 3.
On Thursday evening, President Tinubu met APC governors at the State House in Abuja to further fine tune strategies for peaceful, transparent and credible primaries. The meeting was attended by key members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, including its chairman and Imo State governor Hope Uzodimma, as well as governors Inuwa Yahaya, Babagana Zulum, Hyacinth Alia, Biodun Oyebanji, Peter Mbah and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, among others, with some states represented by their deputies.
Speaking after the meeting, AbdulRazaq, who also chairs the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, said discussions focused on ensuring free, fair and rancour free contests so the party emerges stronger after the primaries.
Niger State governor Umar Bago said the governors used the opportunity to thank Tinubu for his support and leadership. He added that the president gave clear guidance on the conduct of primaries while ceding authority to governors to oversee the processes in their states, provided they act within the law and agreed party rules.
Yesterday’s session is part of ongoing consultations within the ruling party aimed at strengthening internal cohesion and boosting its electoral chances ahead of the general election.
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The APC has released a revised primary election timetable, opened nomination forms to all eligible members and empowered governors to supervise largely consensus or direct primaries, as President Tinubu and party leaders push for rancour free contests.
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