By NNH News Corp Political Desk
Lagos – May 14, 2026
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has moved swiftly to calm nerves and squash rumours, confirming that the dates for its 2027 primary elections remain firmly unchanged. In a press statement issued on May 13, 2026, the party outlined a compressed but ambitious schedule for its nomination exercises.
APC 2027 Primary Election Dates
According to the official statement signed by National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka, CON:
– House of Representatives – Friday, 15th May 2026
– Senate – Monday, 18th May 2026
– State House of Assembly – Wednesday, 20th May 2026
– Governorship – Thursday, 21st May 2026
– Presidential – Saturday, 23rd May 2026
The party described the clarification as necessary following the spread of false reports suggesting a change in the timetable.
New Rules Under Electoral Act 2026
This rapid timeline comes as Nigeria’s political parties operate under the **Electoral Act 2026**, which has significantly reformed how candidates are nominated.
Section 84 of the Act restricts parties to only two lawful methods for selecting candidates:
1. Direct Primaries
This is the default democratic route. Every registered member of the party has the right to vote directly for their preferred aspirant under the “one member, one vote” principle. Parties are required to maintain credible membership registers (preferably digital) and submit them to INEC. The process emphasises inclusiveness and grassroots participation.
2. Consensus
All aspirants for a particular position must voluntarily and unanimously agree in writing to step down for a single candidate. This must be properly documented. Where full consensus fails, the party is mandated to conduct direct primaries.
The previous indirect (delegate) system has been completely abolished under the new law, a move aimed at reducing money politics, godfatherism, and elite control that characterised past primaries.
Implementation and INEC Oversight
INEC is statutorily required to monitor all party primaries to ensure compliance with the Electoral Act. Political parties must notify the commission in advance and conduct the exercises in a transparent manner.
For the APC’s upcoming primaries, the choice between direct primaries and consensus will be critical. With the extremely tight schedule, many observers expect most positions to lean toward direct primaries or carefully managed consensus arrangements, especially at the national level.
What This Means for 2027
The Electoral Act 2026 seeks to strengthen internal party democracy by giving ordinary members greater influence in candidate selection. However, the success of this reform will be tested by practical realities: the integrity of membership registers, logistical arrangements for large-scale voting, and the ability to prevent manipulation within the short timeframes.
As parties like the APC begin their nomination processes in the coming days, all eyes will be on how faithfully they adhere to the new legal framework.
NNH News Corp will provide continued coverage of the primaries as they unfold across parties. The coming weeks will reveal whether the new Electoral Act truly delivers more democratic and credible candidate selection for the 2027 general elections.
