If you are an APC member or just a Nigerian trying to keep up with the 2026 political season, your calendar is about to get very full. The All Progressives Congress has released its official timetable for the primaries and conventions leading up to the 2027 general elections, and the dates are now set in stone. This is not just a list of random meetings—it is the roadmap that will determine who gets party tickets, who gets left behind, and what the political landscape looks like going into the elections.
The Big Picture: Why These Dates Matter
The Independent National Electoral Commission has given political parties a window of April 23 to May 30, 2026 to conduct their primaries and resolve any disputes that arise from them. This is the period when parties must pick their candidates for the 2027 elections, and the APC has structured its schedule to fit within this framework.
The general elections themselves are scheduled for January 16, 2027 (Presidential and National Assembly) and February 6, 2027 (Governorship and State Houses of Assembly). Campaigns for federal elections will begin on August 19, 2026, while state-level campaigns start on September 9, 2026. This means the second half of 2026 will be dominated by political activities, and the APC’s internal calendar sets the stage for all of it.
March 2026: The National Convention
The APC’s 2026 political calendar kicked off with the party’s 8th National Convention, held on March 27 and 28, 2026 in Abuja. This was a major event that brought together 8,453 delegates from across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The convention served as a policy engagement platform where the party elected new executives, reviewed its policies, and charted its strategic direction for the upcoming elections.
At the convention, the party’s National Convention Central Coordination Committee assigned national offices to all six geo-political zones based on federal character principles. This zoning arrangement was designed to prevent internal conflicts and ensure that the party’s leadership reflects the diversity of the country. The convention set the tone for the rest of the political year, establishing the leadership structures that would oversee the primary elections.
April 2026: The Form Sales Begin
The primary season officially kicked off with the sale of nomination forms, which ran from April 25 to May 2, 2026. During this period, aspirants for various positions—from State House of Assembly to President—purchased Expression of Interest and Nomination forms at the party’s National Headquarters in Wuse II, Abuja.
The prices for these forms reflected the level of office being sought. Presidential aspirants paid N100 million for the full set of forms, while governorship aspirants paid N50 million. Senate aspirants paid N20 million, House of Representatives aspirants paid N10 million, and State House of Assembly aspirants paid N6 million. The party also offered a 50% discount on nomination forms for women, youth, and physically challenged aspirants, though they still had to pay the full amount for the Expression of Interest form.
The deadline for submitting completed nomination forms and supporting documents was May 4, 2026. This gave aspirants only ten days to gather their paperwork and meet the requirements, making it a tight window for anyone considering a run.
May 2026: The Primary Elections
May 2026 was the most critical month on the APC’s political calendar, as it was when the party conducted its primary elections across all levels of elective office.
May 6-9: Screening of Aspirants
Before any primary could take place, all aspirants had to go through a screening process. Aspirants for State House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, and governorship positions were screened between May 6 and May 8, while presidential aspirants were screened on May 9. The results of the screening exercise were published on May 11, followed by an appeals process for those who were disqualified or dissatisfied with the outcome. Appeals were heard between May 12 and May 13.
May 15-23: Primary Elections
The primary elections themselves followed a staggered schedule designed to manage the scale of the process:
House of Representatives primaries: May 15, 2026
Senate primaries: May 18, 2026
State House of Assembly primaries: May 20, 2026
Governorship primaries: May 21, 2026
Presidential primary: May 23, 2026
The presidential primary was originally scheduled for May 15 but was later shifted to May 23 to allow for more preparation time. This was one of several adjustments the APC made to ensure compliance with the Electoral Act 2026 and INEC guidelines.
Direct Primaries vs. Consensus
The APC adopted both direct and consensus options as permitted under the Electoral Act. Under the direct primary system, all registered APC members in each ward were eligible to cast a vote for the aspirant of their choice. Under the consensus system, all aspirants had to agree in writing to endorse a single candidate.
However, the party introduced a crucial safeguard: unanimity among aspirants is now mandatory for a consensus arrangement to stand. If even one aspirant refuses to endorse the consensus candidate, the process automatically reverts to direct primaries. This was a direct response to past controversies where party leaders imposed candidates without the consent of other aspirants, leading to internal conflicts and defections.
Post-Primary Appeals
After each set of primaries, the party set up appeal committees to handle disputes. The appeals process began with House of Representatives on May 18 and ended with presidential appeals on May 25, 2026. This was designed to resolve conflicts quickly and prevent them from escalating into legal battles that could derail the party’s election preparations.
June 2026: Restored State Constituencies
One key development in June was the APC’s release of a timetable for primary elections in restored state constituencies in Benue, Delta, Jigawa, and Kogi states. These constituencies had been subject to court orders or legal disputes that required new primaries to be conducted. The party scheduled the sale of nomination forms for June 17-19, screening for June 22, and the primary elections for June 24, 2026.
This was a reminder that the political calendar is not always linear—legal challenges and court orders can force parties to revisit processes they thought were already concluded. For aspirants in these affected constituencies, the June dates were a second chance to secure their tickets.
The Zamfara State Exception
The APC also approved a separate timetable for ward, local government, and state congresses in Zamfara State, scheduled to begin on April 28, 2026. Ward congresses were held on April 30, with appeal processes running through early May. This separate schedule reflected the unique political dynamics in Zamfara, where internal party disputes have historically been more intense than in other states.
What All of This Means for APC Members
For ordinary APC members, the 2026 calendar has been a whirlwind of activity. The shift to direct primaries means that for the first time in many years, ordinary party members had a real say in who represents the party in the 2027 elections. This is a significant departure from the old delegate system, where power was concentrated in the hands of a few party officials.
However, the process has not been without its challenges. There have been complaints of candidate imposition, exclusion of stakeholders, and dissatisfaction over consensus arrangements in states like Yobe, Benue, and Gombe. The party leadership has defended the process, insisting that the primaries were conducted in line with the Electoral Act and the APC constitution.
The 2026 APC political calendar is now complete, but the work is far from over. With the 2027 elections on the horizon, the party must now focus on unifying its candidates, resolving lingering disputes, and preparing for the general elections. For Nigerian voters, the calendar serves as a useful guide to what has already happened and what is still to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What were the key dates in the APC’s 2026 political calendar?
The key dates include the National Convention (March 27-28), sale of nomination forms (April 25-May 2), submission deadline (May 4), screening of aspirants (May 6-9), and the primary elections (May 15-23). The presidential primary was held on May 23, 2026.
2. When did the APC presidential primary take place in 2026?
The APC presidential primary was held on May 23, 2026. It was originally scheduled for May 15 but was rescheduled to allow more preparation time.
3. How much did APC nomination forms cost in 2026?
Presidential aspirants paid N100 million, governorship aspirants paid N50 million, Senate aspirants paid N20 million, House of Representatives aspirants paid N10 million, and State House of Assembly aspirants paid N6 million. Women, youth, and physically challenged aspirants received a 50% discount on nomination forms.
4. What is the difference between direct primaries and consensus in the APC?
Direct primaries allow all registered party members to vote for the candidate of their choice. Consensus requires all aspirants to agree in writing to endorse a single candidate. If even one aspirant refuses, the process reverts to direct primaries.
5. When are the 2027 general elections scheduled?
The Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
6. When do campaigns start for the 2027 elections?
Campaigns for the Presidential and National Assembly elections begin on August 19, 2026, while campaigns for Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections commence on September 9, 2026.
