APC Sets 2027 Primaries: Presidential May 15-16, Governorship May 23; N100m Forms

The ruling All Progressives Congress has finally drawn the curtain on speculation about its 2027 primary elections, announcing a timetable that will see presidential aspirants battle it out on May 15 and 16.

In a notice signed by National Organising Secretary Sulaiman Argungu, the party fixed the governorship primary for May 23, with House of Representatives primaries on May 18, Senate on May 20, and State Houses of Assembly on May 21.

The price tag for ambition? A steep N100 million for presidential nomination forms, broken down into N30 million for Expression of Interest and N70 million for the actual nomination. Governorship aspirants will part with N50 million total — N20 million expression of interest and N40 million nomination fee.

Form sales begin April 25

The party will commence sale of nomination forms on April 25, with the exercise closing on May 2. Aspirants have until May 4 to submit completed forms, followed by screening between May 6 and 8. Results of the screening exercise will be published on May 11, with appeals scheduled for May 12 and 13.

For legislative seats, the numbers are comparatively modest: Senate forms cost N20 million total, while House of Representatives forms go for N10 million. State House of Assembly aspirants will pay N6 million combined.

Female aspirants, youth and physically challenged aspirants are to pay for expression of interest and 50 per cent of the prescribed nomination fees for each position, the party said.

Consensus or direct primary

National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda said the party’s first choice is to pick candidates by consensus. Where aspirants cannot agree, chapters will opt for direct primaries in line with the Electoral Act 2026.

The timetable comes as President Tinubu is expected to seek re-election, though no member of the APC has formally declared interest in contesting the presidency. Several governors and prominent party members are also expected to contest various positions.

Sources: Channels TV (via Time.com.ng), The Nation, National Accord Newspaper