The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially opened the race for the 2027 general elections, announcing that the sale of nomination forms will begin on April 25, with presidential aspirants required to pay N70 million for expression of interest and nomination.
The party disclosed the timetable after its National Working Committee (NWC) meeting, saying the sale of forms will run from April 25 to May 2, while submission closes on May 4. Screening of legislative and governorship aspirants will hold between May 6 and 8, with presidential screening fixed for May 9.
Durosinmi Meseko, deputy national publicity secretary of the party, said the APC has communicated its revised schedule to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), stressing that no aspirant is being excluded from the process.
“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.
According to the timetable, House of Representatives primaries will be held on May 15, Senate primaries on May 18, and state assembly primaries on May 20. Governorship primaries are scheduled for May 21, while the presidential primary will take place on May 23. The party also confirmed it has adopted a hybrid system of direct and consensus primaries.
“Where there is consensus and an aspirant does not agree, it automatically reverts to direct primaries,” Meseko added.
On internal arrangements, he said congresses in Zamfara state will begin on April 28, covering ward, local government and state levels, while updated membership registers have been sent to INEC. “The APC is now fully ready for the upcoming primary elections,” he said.
Speaking after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, Niger State Governor Umar Bago said the president had directed governors on how to proceed with the primaries. “We came to thank the president for his magnanimity and support for the governors and for our party. He gave us marching orders on what to do,” he said.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq also assured of a transparent process, saying: “The timetable for the election has been released, and we discussed the process moving forward – that there will be free and fair elections, no rancour, and at the end of the day, the party should be one and stronger heading towards the election.”
