How APC Prepares for Nigerian General Elections

Last checked: 14 October 2026. This article describes how APC prepares for Nigerian general elections, based on reported 2026 events. It is civic education, not an endorsement of any party, and it relies on public reports and party statements.

How APC prepares for Nigerian general elections can be seen in the steps it has taken for the 2027 contest. Preparation involves party structures, legal compliance, candidate selection, alliances and a campaign operation. The 2026 timetable gives a clear example.

Start with the law and the calendar

Every party has to work within the Electoral Act. The Electoral Act 2026, signed by President Tinubu on 18 February 2026, replaced the 2022 Act and changed several timelines. INEC then rescheduled the 2027 elections: the presidential and National Assembly polls are set for 16 January 2027, and governorship and state assembly polls for 6 February 2027. The APC adjusted its own timetable to match. In April 2026 it revised its schedule, moving the presidential primary from 15 May to 23 May, saying the changes were meant to ensure full compliance with the amended Constitution, the 2026 Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.

Building and cleaning the membership register

Under the 2026 Act, a party must give INEC its digital membership register at least 21 days before primaries, congresses or conventions, with details such as name, address, ward and polling unit. Only people on the register can vote or contest in the primaries, as reported. The register is therefore the foundation of a party’s preparation. On 24 September 2026 the Supreme Court dealt with this requirement in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, and the APC says the ruling confirms that Section 77 is mandatory. The party has asked INEC to verify whether other parties met the deadline.

Congresses and primaries

The APC’s timetable included state and ward congresses, the sale of nomination forms from 25 April to 2 May, the submission of forms by 4 May, screening from 5 to 9 May and the presidential primary on 23 May 2026. The National Working Committee adopted direct and consensus modes, with direct primaries as the fallback if consensus failed or an aspirant rejected it. Our separate guide on primaries explains this process in more detail.

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Strengthening its state base

A national party depends heavily on its governors. BusinessDay reported that the APC had 31 governors by 9 March 2026, after defections from the PDP. Governors typically control state party machinery, resources for local campaigns and links to local government areas. Supporters see the growth as evidence of broad appeal; critics argue that many defections were driven by convenience. Either way, it shapes how the party organises.

Forming a campaign organisation

For the campaign, the APC named Senator Abdulaziz Yari, a former Zamfara governor, as director-general of its presidential campaign. The campaign council was due to hold its inaugural meeting on 14 October at the State House in Abuja, and the campaign flag-off is planned for Kaduna on 24 October, followed by stops in Rivers State and Maiduguri.

Defining the message

Yari has said the campaign will present the administration’s record and seek a second term for Tinubu, with the line that “we are not promising, we are doing it, and we are going to continue”. Opposition parties, including the ADC, whose presidential council Atiku Abubakar has inaugurated, argue that they offer a credible alternative. Voters will weigh these competing claims.

Preparing for polling day

Parties also prepare for polling day through agents who observe voting and collation, lawyers who prepare for disputes, and voter education. INEC’s guide says voters must vote in person with a valid Permanent Voter Card at their assigned polling unit, with accreditation through the BVAS device. Parties try to make sure their supporters have collected their cards and know where to vote.

Funding and compliance

Campaigns cost money, and electoral law sets rules on spending and donations. The 2022 Act capped presidential campaign spending at ₦5 billion, but we did not confirm whether the 2026 Act changed that limit. Parties should keep records and follow INEC’s guidelines to avoid sanctions.

What we could not confirm

• The APC’s internal budget or fundraising, which is not publicly detailed.
• Whether the 2026 Act changed campaign spending limits.
• The APC’s full manifesto, which we did not find on its election page.

Frequently asked questions

When does the APC campaign start? Presidential campaigns opened on 19 August 2026, and the APC’s flag-off is planned for 24 October in Kaduna.

Who leads the campaign? Senator Abdulaziz Yari is the director-general.

What is the most important legal step? Submitting a digital membership register on time and following primary rules.

Key takeaways

The APC prepares through legal compliance, a clean register, congresses and primaries, state-level alliances, a campaign council and a message. The 2026 timetable shows how closely preparation follows the electoral calendar.

Sources checked

• Premium Times, APC revised 2027 timetable, 24 April 2026
• AllAfrica, INEC reschedules 2027 elections, 27 February 2026
• Daily Times and Legal 500, summaries of the Electoral Act 2026
• VON, APC urges INEC to enforce Supreme Court ruling, September 2026
• ThisDay, Tinubu to kick off campaign in Kaduna, 10 October 2026
• BusinessDay, APC governors rise to 31, 9 March 2026