The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially released detailed guidelines and constituted committees for the conduct of its 2026 presidential primary election, adopting a direct primary system that will allow all registered party members across the country to participate in the exercise.

According to documents issued by the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, the presidential primary is scheduled to hold on May 24, 2026, across the nation’s 8,809 wards.

The ruling party stated that every registered APC member would be eligible to vote for the presidential aspirant of their choice during the exercise, in line with the party’s direct primary model.

The APC further explained that results from each ward would first be collated at the local government level before transmission to the national collation centre in Abuja.

“The organisation of conduct of the direct primary in each of the 36 states and the FCT shall be the responsibility of the State Coordinator and Collation Officer, who shall also collate the results of all the local governments in the state and present the same to the Presidential Primary Election Committee in Abuja,” the document partly read.

The party also noted that the guidelines earlier submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on May 15, 2026, regarding the “Procedure for the Conduct of Direct and Consensus Mode of Primaries,” would apply to the presidential exercise.

Anyim Heads Presidential Primary Committee

Former Senate President Pius Anyim was named chairman of the APC Presidential Primary Election Committee.

Other members of the committee include former Senate President Ken Nnamani, former Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba, former deputy governor Grace Titi Laoye-Ponle, former Speaker Yakubu Dogara, former Idris Wada, while Senator Sanusi Musa will serve as secretary.

The APC also constituted a Presidential Primary Election Appeal Committee chaired by former Senate Leader Ali Ndume.

The appeal committee includes Samuel Pwajok as secretary and former Speaker of the House of Representatives Patricia Etteh as a member.

Governors, Party Leaders Named State Coordinators

The ruling party also appointed several serving and former governors as coordinators and collation officers for different states ahead of the exercise.

Among those appointed are Siminalayi Fubara for Rivers State, Hope Uzodimma for Imo State, Umo Eno for Akwa Ibom State, Douye Diri for Bayelsa State, and Hyacinth Alia for Benue State.

Others include Babagana Zulum, Sheriff Oborevwori, Francis Nwifuru, Monday Okpebholo, Peter Mbah, Umar Namadi and Uba Sani.

Also appointed are Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Mohammed Umar Bago, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Caleb Mutfwang, Agbu Kefas, Dauda Lawal and former Osun governor Gboyega Oyetola.

The APC presidential primary is expected to shape the ruling party’s strategy ahead of the 2027 general election, where President Bola Tinubu is seeking re-election for a second term in office.