The All Progressives Congress (APC) has postponed its House of Representatives primary election for the 2027 general polls by one day, moving it from Friday, May 15, to Saturday, May 16, 2026. Other primary election dates for Senate, State Houses of Assembly, governorship, and presidential contests remain unchanged.
APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka announced the change late Thursday, noting that the adjustment affects only the House of Representatives primaries. The primaries are expected to take place in 8,809 wards across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas, with APC members selecting candidates for 360 House of Representatives constituencies. The party opted for direct primaries, allowing all registered members to participate, after discarding consensus arrangements due to internal disagreements.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged party members to avoid “do-or-die” politics, stressing fairness, unity, and peaceful conduct. He emphasized that winners should avoid triumphalism and losers should accept results in good faith. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has directed its Resident Electoral Commissioners to monitor the primaries to ensure compliance with the Electoral Act 2026.
The last-minute shift was reportedly made to streamline logistics and ensure smooth conduct nationwide. With multiple aspirants contesting, the primaries are seen as a test of APC’s internal cohesion ahead of the 2027 general elections. As Nigeria’s ruling party, APC’s candidate selection process will play a major role in shaping the political landscape leading into the polls.
