The African Democratic Congress has put out its timetable for the 2026 primary elections. The schedule sets clear dates for selling nomination forms, screening candidates, hearing appeals, and holding votes for every level of office.
Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, released the details in a statement on Sunday.
Nomination forms will be available from May 5 to May 10, 2026. Completed forms must be submitted between May 11 and May 13. Screening of those who want to run is fixed for May 14 and 15, with the results published on May 17.
Appeals will be heard on May 18 and 19. The final list of approved aspirants comes out the following day, May 20.
Primary elections begin on May 21. On that same day, voting for State Houses of Assembly, House of Representatives, and Senate seats will happen together at the ward level. Governorship primaries follow on May 22. The presidential primary is set for May 25.
A National Executive Committee meeting is scheduled for May 26, and a Special National Convention will take place on May 27 to ratify the outcomes.
The party also released the price list for the forms. A presidential nomination form costs N100 million. Governorship forms are N50 million, Senate is N20 million, House of Representatives N10 million, and State House of Assembly N3 million.
That makes the ADC the second party to set its presidential and governorship fees at those levels, after the ruling All Progressives Congress.
To bring in more people, the ADC is offering discounts. Youths will get 50 percent off. Women and persons with disabilities get a 25 percent reduction.
Party leaders are asking members, stakeholders, and anyone thinking of running to follow the timetable and guidelines exactly.
The announcement lands while the ADC is still stuck in a long leadership crisis. The Supreme Court recently reinstated the faction led by former Senate President David Mark. Even so, the party keeps dealing with internal splits, expulsions from rival groups, and court battles over past congresses and conventions.
Some prominent opposition voices are now weighing whether to walk away. They are unhappy about the primary rules and questions over who actually controls the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
