The All Progressives Congress has rescheduled its presidential primary election for May 23, 2026.
The party had earlier fixed May 15 and 16, for the presidential primary.
The rescheduling was part of adjustments to its timetable for the 2027 general elections.
The party also fixed its governorship primaries for May 21, 2026.
The revised schedule was unveiled after the 186th National Working Committee meeting held in Abuja on Thursday.
The APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Duro Meseko, who disclosed the changes, said the review aligns with provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, the Electoral Act 2026, and the timetable issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Under the revised timetable, sale of nomination forms will run from April 25 to May 2, 2026, while submission of completed forms is expected to close on May 4.
Screening of aspirants for the National Assembly and governorship positions will take place between May 6 and May 8, with presidential aspirants to be screened on May 9.
Results of the screening exercises are scheduled for publication on May 11, while appeals will be heard between May 12 and May 13.
Primary elections for various positions will be conducted sequentially, beginning with the House of Representatives on May 15, followed by the Senate on May 18 and State Houses of Assembly on May 20.
Governorship primaries will hold on May 21, while the presidential primary is slated for May 23.
Post-primary appeals will be heard between May 18 and May 25, depending on the category of election.
Meseko added that the party has adopted both direct and consensus modes of primaries, in line with the Electoral Act, stressing that aspirants are free to choose their preferred option.
He clarified that where consensus fails, the process will automatically revert to direct primaries.
The party also released a separate timetable for ward, local government, and state congresses in Zamfara State, scheduled to commence on April 28, 2026.
Recall that the INEC had earlier fixed January 16, 2027, for presidential and National Assembly elections, while governorship and state assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.
Campaigns are expected to begin on August 19, 2026, for presidential and National Assembly polls, and September 9, 2026, for governorship and state assembly elections.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
