The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has released a comprehensive timetable for its upcoming primary elections, with activities set to kick off in a matter of days and concluding with a Special National Convention on May 27.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, announced the schedule in an official statement on Sunday, outlining a meticulously sequenced process that the party says underscores its commitment to transparency, internal democracy, and strict compliance with the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
With barely 48 hours before the first activity on the calendar, the ADC has wasted no time in putting its machinery in motion. The sale of nomination forms is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, May 5, running through Saturday, May 10, a narrow five-day window that signals the party means business and intends to operate with military-like precision.
Aspiring candidates will then have a three-day window, from May 11 to May 13, to submit their completed forms before facing the scrutiny of the party’s screening committee between May 14 and May 15.
Results of that screening will be published on May 17, with an appeals window open from May 18 to May 19 for any aspirants who feel aggrieved by the committee’s decisions.
The final list of cleared aspirants will be published on May 20, setting the stage for what promises to be a politically charged week of primary elections.
The climax of the exercise unfolds across a carefully staggered schedule designed to manage the complexity of conducting elections at multiple levels simultaneously.
On May 21, candidates vying for seats in the State Houses of Assembly, the House of Representatives, and the Senate will contest their primaries simultaneously at the ward level, a decentralized approach that the party appears to have adopted to maximize grassroots participation and reduce logistical bottlenecks.
Governorship aspirants will have their day on May 22, in what is expected to be among the most fiercely contested contests within the party, particularly in states where the ADC holds or is targeting political relevance.
The grand finale, the Presidential Primary, is reserved for May 25, a date that will undoubtedly attract the most attention and media scrutiny as the party settles on its flagbearer for what is shaping up to be a highly competitive 2026 presidential election.
The primaries will then be followed by a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on May 26, before the Special National Convention on May 27 brings the entire process to a formal close with final ratifications giving the party’s choices the constitutional backing required under its internal governance framework.
Perhaps the most attention-grabbing aspect of the announcement is the party’s nomination fee structure, a tiered regime that reflects both the high stakes of Nigerian political contests and a conscious effort to balance accessibility with revenue generation.
At the top of the pyramid, presidential aspirants will be required to purchase their forms at a steep ₦100 million, a figure consistent with the premium pricing seen across major Nigerian political parties in recent cycles.
Governorship hopefuls will pay ₦50 million, while senatorial aspirants face a ₦20 million fee. House of Representatives candidates will pay ₦10 million, and those seeking State House of Assembly tickets will part with ₦3 million.
These figures, while substantial, are unlikely to deter the political heavyweights typically drawn to such contests. However, what sets the ADC’s announcement apart is its deliberate provision for concessional rates, a policy the party is framing as a bold step toward inclusivity.
The ADC has introduced structured discounts for historically underrepresented groups. Youths will receive a 50 percent discount on nomination forms across all elective positions, while women and persons with disabilities will benefit from a 25 percent reduction in fees.
The move, if sincerely implemented, could lower the financial barriers that have long kept younger and more vulnerable Nigerians on the margins of electoral participation, at least at the party primary level.
Critics, however, may argue that even at half price, a ₦50 million governorship form remains well beyond the reach of the average Nigerian youth.
The ADC’s proactive release of its primary timetable positions it as one of the earlier major parties to formally announce its internal election calendar ahead of the 2026 general elections.
For now, the party is projecting an image of order and purpose. Whether that image survives contact with the realities of Nigerian political competition remains to be seen.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has released its 2026 primary elections timetable, kicking off with the sale of nomination forms on May 5. The process runs through a tight, structured schedule culminating in a presidential primary on May 25 and a special national convention on May 27.
The standout element of the announcement is the party’s fee concession policy, offering 50% discounts for youths and 25% for women and persons with disabilities — a move that, at least on paper, signals a push toward broader political inclusion in a landscape long dominated by financial gatekeeping.
