The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially released its highly anticipated timetable for the 2027 General Elections, signaling an early start to the political season. In a move that has already sparked intense debate across the country, the party has fixed the cost of its presidential nomination and expression of interest forms at a staggering ₦100 million.
The announcement, made at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja today, outlines a condensed schedule for selecting candidates who will fly the APC flag in the general elections now scheduled for January 16, 2027.
The Road to the Primaries: Key Dates
The APC has laid out a strict one-month window for the selection of its candidates, emphasizing the need for early preparation and dispute resolution.
- April 25 – May 2, 2026: Sale of Nomination and Expression of Interest forms.
- May 3 – May 10, 2026: Screening of aspirants and document verification.
- May 15 – May 16, 2026: Presidential Primary Election.
- May 18 – May 25, 2026: Primary elections for Governorship, Senate, and House of Representatives.
The timeline aligns with the revised INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) framework, which mandates that all party primaries must be concluded between April 23 and May 30, 2026.
₦100 Million Ticket: “Regulated Entry” or “Monopolized Democracy”?
The ₦100 million price tag for the presidential form has quickly become a trending topic on Nigerian social media. While the party maintains that the fee is necessary to fund the administrative costs of the primaries and ensure that only “serious and viable” contenders enter the race, critics argue it further entrenches “money politics.”
“By setting the bar at ₦100 million, the party is effectively telling the average Nigerian youth or professional that leadership is reserved for the billionaire class,” noted a Lagos-based political analyst. However, party insiders suggest that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was recently endorsed at the March 2026 APC National Convention, remains the clear frontrunner, with much of the “form sales” expected to be symbolic gestures of loyalty.
The Broader Political Context
The APC’s early move comes at a time of significant upheaval in the opposition. Just last week, a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) announced May 23 as its primary date, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) continues to struggle with leadership disputes involving its “Third Force” coalition members, such as Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar.
What This Means for 2027
With the presidential primary just weeks away in mid-May, the Nigerian political space is set for a frenetic period of lobbying, endorsements, and high-stakes negotiations. The APC’s decision to move early suggests a strategy of “internal consolidation”—resolving their candidate choices well before the official campaign window opens in August 2026.
As the naira continues to navigate a volatile economic landscape and security remain a top-tier concern for voters, the next 30 days will determine which faces will lead the ruling party into a defense of its mandate on January 16, 2027.
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