The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has released the timetable for political party primaries ahead of the 2027 General Election, directing Resident Electoral Commissioners across the country to commence preparations for the monitoring of the exercises.
In a notice dated May 11, 2026, and signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Dr. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, the electoral body informed Resident Electoral Commissioners in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory that political parties would conduct primaries for the nomination of candidates for presidential, governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and state Houses of Assembly elections within approved periods.
The memo, issued from the Office of the Secretary at INEC headquarters in Abuja, stated that the monitoring of the primaries must be carried out in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, and the Commission’s regulations and guidelines.
INEC noted that the timetable and schedules submitted by political parties could be updated from time to time if necessary.
According to the schedule released by the Commission, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, will conduct its presidential primary on Saturday, May 23, 2026, while its governorship primary is scheduled for Thursday, May 21, 2026. The party’s senatorial primary will hold on Monday, May 18, while the deadline for House of Representatives primaries is Friday, May 15.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is expected to hold its presidential primary on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, with governorship primaries slated for Sunday, May 24. The party fixed Wednesday, May 28, for senatorial primaries and May 17 as the deadline for House of Representatives primaries.
The Labour Party, LP, scheduled its presidential primary for Friday, May 29, 2026, while its governorship primary will hold on Wednesday, May 27.
Other political parties, including the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Social Democratic Party, SDP, African Democratic Congress, ADC, and All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, also announced dates for their primaries within May 2026.
INEC urged all Resident Electoral Commissioners to make the necessary arrangements for effective monitoring of the primaries in their respective states and the FCT as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections intensify.
