The ruling party, All Progressives Congress, has postponed its House of Representatives primary election earlier fixed for Friday, moving the exercise to Saturday, May 16, 2026.
The adjustment was announced in a statement issued on Thursday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka.
Despite the change, the party confirmed that the timetable for other primary elections remains unchanged.
Under the revised schedule released by the party, the Senate primaries will hold on Monday, May 18, while State House of Assembly primaries are slated for Wednesday, May 20. Governorship primaries are expected on Thursday, May 21, with the presidential primary scheduled for Saturday, May 23.
Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appealed to party members and aspirants to avoid acts capable of creating tension during the exercise.
In a statement personally signed on Thursday ahead of the nationwide primaries, the President urged aspirants, delegates and party leaders to conduct themselves peacefully and uphold internal democracy, fairness and sportsmanship throughout the process.
Tinubu described the primaries, beginning with the House of Representatives contest and ending with the presidential primary, as vital to the future and unity of the party.
“We should not play the politics of old; the do-or-die politics that we have put behind us. Politics should never be a zero-sum game,” Tinubu said.
He further encouraged party members to see the exercise as an avenue to strengthen unity rather than deepen divisions.
“Election is an essential ingredient of democracy. Where consensus fails, I urge us all to go into the primaries as brothers and sisters.
“All participants in the primaries, as contestants or voters, must keep the peace and be ready to play as sportsmen and women in the overall interest of the party and our country,” he stated.
The President also cautioned against actions that could weaken democracy and party cohesion, noting that winners should avoid excessive celebration while those who lose should accept the outcome in good faith.