.As sales of nomination forms commence tomorrow
By Yahaya Umar, Abuja
As preparations for 2027 general elections gathers momentum, President Bola Tinubu yesterday held a closed-door meeting with All Progressives Congress, APC, governors at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.
AljazirahNigeria reports that the meeting was coming barely three weeks before the party conducts its primary elections ahead of the 2027 polls.
Details of the meeting were not available as at press time. However, our impeccable source not an official statement hinted this medium part of the issues discussed in the meeting. He said that President Tinubu wasn’t happy with fillers of not too good reports reaching him over the attitudes of some party leaders in chosing who gets what in the forthcoming Primaries. He said that Mr President cautioned some party leaders who unilaterally without wider consultations anointed candidates thereby eliciting rancour among party faithful. President Tinubu pleaded with the Governors not to allow disagreements in reaching consensus. And where Consensus is not possible they should conduct a free and just primary election to chose candidates for the general elections.
Governors Babagana Zulum (Borno), Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Hyacinth Alia (Benue) Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe) Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti) Peter Mbah (Enugu) and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara) among others. While some deputy governors represented their governors, according to sources.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress, has announced that the sale of nomination forms for aspirants seeking to contest elective positions in the 2027 general elections will commence on Saturday.
National Publicity Secretary, Durosinmi Meseko, disclosed this while addressing journalists after the 186th meeting of the National Working Committee, NWC.
Mesekon noted that the updated timetable supersedes all previously released schedules and has already been communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
He also confirmed that the sale of forms would run from April 25 to May 2, 2026, while the deadline for submission of completed forms and accompanying documents is Monday, May 4, 2026.
Besides, screening of aspirants would begin with those vying for legislative and governorship positions between May 6 and May 8, while the screening of presidential aspirants is scheduled for May 9.
Publication of screening results for all categories—State House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, and presidential—will take place on Monday, May 11, 2026, the Spokesman stated.
According him appeals arising from the screening process would be handled by designated committees from May 12 to May 13, 2026 adding that the timetable for primary elections, stating that the exercise would commence with the House of Representatives primaries on May 15, followed by Senate primaries on May 18, State House of Assembly primaries on May 20, and governorship primaries on May 21.
Presidential primary election, initially slated for May 15 and 16, has been shifted to Saturday, May 23, 2026, he stated.
Meseko further stated that post-primary appeal committees would sit on May 18 for the House of Representatives, May 20 for the Senate, May 21 for State House of Assembly, May 23 for governorship, and May 25 for the presidential category.
“Nomination forms for all aspirants seeking offices under the APC are open. Forms are available for all members contesting elections. There is no limitation or restriction,” he said.
However, consensus candidate would only apply where all aspirants agree, warning that any disagreement would automatically revert the process to direct primaries.
“Where there is consensus and an aspirant does not agree, it automatically reverts to direct primaries. The consensus option must be agreed to by all aspirants; if not, it defaults to the direct mode,” the spokesman clarified.
Aspirants are free to choose their preferred mode in accordance with the law, noting that both options remain valid under the Electoral Act, he noted.
The APC NWC meeting also approved a timetable for ward, local government area, and state congresses in Zamfara State, scheduled to commence on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
The party also stated that screening of aspirants for ward executive positions will hold on April 29, followed by ward congresses on April 30 and appeals arising from ward screening and congresses, as well as those from LGA congresses and screening of state executive members, will be heard on May 1, while appeals from state congresses will be handled on May 3, 2026.
Pointing out that updated membership lists, including newly registered members, have been successfully transmitted to INEC, signalling the party’s preparedness for the primaries.
Meseko noted that the revised timetable aligns with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Electoral Act 2026, and INEC’s official schedule for the 2027 general elections.
AljazirahNigeria recalls that Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, fixed the Presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will be held on February 6, 2027.
INEC also stipulated that party primaries and the resolution of disputes arising from them must be conducted between April 23 and May 30, 2026.
Campaigns for the Presidential and National Assembly elections will commence on August 19, 2026, while campaigns for governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will begin on September 9, 2026, the INEC stated.
Recently, the All Progressives Congress, ruled out automatic tickets to members of the party in the National Assembly and other aspirants seeking elective offices ahead of the 2027 general elections.
National Chairman of the party, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, who disclosed this said that such a move would violate both the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution.
Yilwatda said that the party received multiple requests from lawmakers seeking automatic tickets but insisted that the APC would adhere strictly to due process.
All aspirants must test their popularity through either the direct primary system or a consensus arrangement, as provided by law, he said.