The All Progressives Congress (APC) has scheduled its legislative primaries for August 22, 2026, across affected constituencies in Delta, Kogi, Gombe, Bauchi and Kano states, as the party begins the final stage of selecting candidates for forthcoming legislative contests.
The exercise covers seven constituencies where vacancies are to be filled through bye-elections, alongside four State House of Assembly constituencies recently restored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Also read: Tinubu to address 193 nations at 81st UN general assembly
INEC had announced that the restored constituencies are Abraka, Isoko North II and Ughelli South II in Delta State, and Yagba West II in Kogi State.
The commission fixed August 21 to 25 for party primaries in those constituencies.
The APC’s timetable therefore comes at a particularly important point in the electoral calendar, with political parties moving quickly to nominate candidates ahead of the September 19, 2026 polls.
The seven bye-election constituencies covered by the process are Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency in Gombe State, Disina and Sakwa State Constituencies in Bauchi State, Udu State Constituency in Delta State, and Dawakin Kudu State Constituency in Kano State.
The party has directed its chapters in the affected states to take note of the schedule and make the necessary preparations for the primaries.
The development follows INEC’s decision to restore the four previously suppressed State House of Assembly constituencies in Delta and Kogi.
INEC said the restoration followed court judgments directing the commission to reinstate the constituencies.
INEC also said the restored constituencies would follow the existing electoral timetable and that political parties were required to submit notices of their primaries before the scheduled dates.
The commission has fixed September 19, 2026 for elections into the affected constituencies.
The APC’s move comes as Nigeria’s political parties increasingly turn their attention towards the wider 2027 electoral cycle.
INEC’s current national timetable places the presidential and National Assembly elections on January 16, 2027, followed by governorship and State House of Assembly elections on February 6, 2027.
The commission has also stressed the importance of parties complying with prescribed timelines as preparations for the 2027 elections intensify.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, has previously warned that coordinated electoral timelines are essential to preventing uncertainty and ensuring orderly election administration.
For the APC, the immediate task is to settle on candidates capable of securing the affected seats in what could become a significant test of the party’s organisation at constituency level.
The primaries could also provide an early indication of the strength of internal competition within the ruling party as aspirants seek tickets in areas where electoral contests are expected to attract considerable attention.
The stakes extend beyond the individual constituencies.
Legislative bye-elections can alter the balance of representation in state assemblies and the House of Representatives, while restored constituencies provide voters with an opportunity to regain representation that had previously been removed from the electoral structure.
With the September 19 elections approaching, the APC’s August primaries represent a crucial step in a process that will ultimately determine which candidates carry the party’s flag before voters.
Also read: Tinubu to address 193 nations at 81st UN general assembly
The party has urged members and stakeholders in the affected constituencies to comply with the approved timetable, setting the stage for a closely watched round of internal contests.
