APC targets rancour-free primaries with revised plan
The All Progressives Congress (APC) took a significant step forward in its process of selecting candidates for the forthcoming general election yesterday. A major consultation was held at the Presidential
- Nomination forms open to all eligible party members
- Electronic list of members sent to INEC
The All Progressives Congress (APC) took a significant step forward in its process of selecting candidates for the forthcoming general election yesterday.
A major consultation was held at the Presidential Villa between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and governors elected on the party’s platform.
It also carried out a comprehensive review of its timetable for the primaries.
Beginning tomorrow, the party’s national secretariat and state offices are expected to become a beehive of activities with the commencement of the sale of Expression of Interest and Nomination forms.
The APC said the forms would be available to all eligible members for purchase.
It also announced that its electronic membership list had been transmitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to the Electoral Act, only members on the list are eligible to participate in the primaries.
The submission places the party ahead of the May 10 deadline set by INEC for political parties to submit their membership registers.
President Tinubu and the governors agreed on the need for rancour-free primaries across the states.
The governors were also empowered to supervise the primaries as leaders of the party in their respective states.
Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Duro Meseko, released the revised timetable to reporters at the party’s secretariat.
The sale of forms, which begins tomorrow, will end on May 2, while the submission deadline is May 4.
The presidential primary, which was initially scheduled to be held first under the earlier guidelines released on Tuesday, will now be conducted last on May 23.
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The revised dates are as follows:
• House of Representatives:
Friday, May 15.
• Senate: Monday, May 18.
• House of Assembly:
Wednesday, May 20.
• Governorship:
Thursday, May 21.
Meseko said the adjustments were made to ensure full compliance with the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2026, and revised guidelines issued by INEC.
“We published a timetable a few days back, but this is the updated version.
“It has been properly communicated to INEC in line with the extant rules,” he said.
Accompanied by the National Leader of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), Aare Tolu Bankole, Meseko added that the sale of nomination forms would commence tomorrow and conclude on May 2, while the deadline for submission of completed forms remains May 4.
The screening of aspirants from the House of Assembly to the presidency is scheduled to take place between May 6 and May 9.
Screening for presidential aspirants will be held on May 9, with the publication of results for all categories slated for May 11.
Meseko reaffirmed that Expression of Interest and Nomination forms can be obtained by all aspirants seeking elective offices.
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On the conduct of the primaries, he said the National Working Committee (NWC) had adopted both direct and consensus modes, as provided by the Electoral Act, stressing that consensus arrangements must have the consent of all aspirants.
He added that the NWC had ceded powers to state chapters to determine the mode to be adopted for their 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; otherwise, it reverts to direct primaries,” he said.
The NWC also addressed internal party leadership issues in Zamfara State, scheduling ward, local government and state congresses to begin on April 28. Ward congresses are set for April 30, while the state congress and appeals will be concluded by May 3.
Meseko said the party is now fully prepared for the primaries.
Tinubu meets governors, pushes for rancour-free primaries
President Tinubu yesterday evening met with APC governors to discuss strategies for conducting peaceful and transparent party primaries.
The meeting, held at the Conference Room of the President’s Office in the State House, Abuja, brought together key members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), including its Chairman and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, as well as Governors Inuwa Yahaya, Babagana Zulum, Hyacinth Alia, Biodun Oyebanji, Peter Mbah and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, among others.
Some states were represented by their deputy governors.
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The meeting, which began at about 5 p.m., was initially held without a publicly disclosed agenda.
Speaking with journalists after the session, Governor AbdulRazaq, who also chairs the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), said discussions focused on ensuring a smooth primary election process following the release of the party’s timetable.
“We met with Mr President. The timetable for the primaries has been released.
“We discussed the process moving forward to ensure free and fair elections without rancour, so that at the end of the process, the party will emerge stronger ahead of the general election,” he said.
Niger State Governor Umar Bago said the governors used the opportunity to appreciate the President for his continued support and leadership.
He said President Tinubu provided clear direction on the conduct of the primaries while affirming the governors’ autonomy within the framework of the law.
“We came to thank the President for his magnanimity and support to the governors and the party.
“He gave us clear directives and also ceded authority to the governors to conduct primaries in line with the Electoral Act, either through consensus or direct primaries.
“He reiterated his support for our decisions and gave us the go-ahead to proceed,” Bago said.
Yesterday’s meeting is part of ongoing consultations within the ruling party aimed at strengthening internal cohesion and boosting its electoral prospects ahead of the next general elections.
