The African Democratic Congress has released its timetable for the 2026 primary elections, providing a detailed schedule for nomination, screening, appeals, and the conduct of primaries across all elective positions.
The announcement was made in a statement issued on Sunday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi.
According to the timetable, the process will begin with the sale and submission of nomination forms before progressing through screening and appeals stages.
“the sale of nomination forms will take place from May 5 to May 10, 2026, while the submission of completed forms is scheduled for May 11 to May 13, 2026.
“Screening of aspirants will take place from May 14 to May 15, 2026, followed by the publication of screening results on May 17, 2026.”
The party stated that appeals arising from the screening process will be handled between May 18 and May 19, after which the final list of cleared aspirants will be published on May 20.
Primaries are expected to begin shortly after, covering various levels of elective offices.
“Primary elections will commence on May 21, 2026, with elections for State Houses of Assembly, House of Representatives, and Senate seats holding simultaneously at the ward level.
“The Governorship primaries will take place on May 22, 2026, while the Presidential Primary is scheduled for May 25, 2026.”
Following the primaries, the party will hold a National Executive Committee meeting on May 26, 2026, and a Special National Convention on May 27, 2026, where final ratifications are expected to take place.
In addition to the timetable, the ADC also announced the cost of nomination forms for aspirants seeking various positions.
According to the party, “The presidential nomination form is pegged at N100 million, governorship at N50 million, Senate at N20 million, House of Representatives at N10 million, and State House of Assembly at N3 million.”
The party noted that these fees place it among political parties with some of the highest nomination costs, following the All Progressives Congress.
To broaden participation, the ADC introduced concessions, offering a 50 per cent discount for youths and a 25 per cent discount for women and persons with disabilities.
The party urged all aspirants and stakeholders to strictly adhere to the guidelines and timelines outlined in the schedule.
However, the announcement comes at a time of internal challenges within the party. The ADC has been grappling with a prolonged leadership crisis, despite a recent Supreme Court ruling that reinstated the faction led by David Mark.
The party continues to face internal divisions, including disputes over congresses, conventions, and primary election formats, with some opposition figures reportedly considering exit options ahead of the 2027 general elections.
