The All Progressives Congress has appointed Siminalayi Fubara alongside several serving and former governors as coordinators and collation officers for its forthcoming presidential primary election across the country.
The ruling party also confirmed that it has adopted the direct primary system for the exercise, allowing all registered party members nationwide to participate in selecting the party’s presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The development was disclosed in an official document issued by the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, outlining arrangements and responsibilities for the nationwide exercise.
According to the document, the direct primary election is scheduled to take place across all 8,809 wards in Nigeria on May 24, 2026.
The party explained that the appointed coordinators would supervise the conduct of the primary election in their assigned states while also functioning as collation officers responsible for compiling results.
Under the arrangement, each state coordinator is expected to oversee the election process, collate results from all local government areas within the state and forward the final outcome to the Presidential Primary Election Committee in Abuja.
“The organisation and 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 on 24 May, 2026,” the statement read.
The APC further stated that the guidelines earlier issued for the conduct of direct and consensus primaries, and already submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, would remain applicable throughout the process.
The circular announcing the appointments and election procedures was signed by the APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru.
The latest move signals intensified preparations within the ruling party ahead of the presidential primary, as political activities continue to gather momentum across Nigeria.
The adoption of the direct primary system is expected to increase participation among party members, though such exercises have previously generated debates within political parties over logistics, transparency and internal power dynamics.
The inclusion of serving governors and former state leaders as coordinators also reflects the party’s effort to place experienced political figures at the centre of the primary election process.
Political observers are expected to closely monitor the conduct of the exercise, especially given the significance of the APC presidential ticket ahead of the next general election.
What you should know
Direct primary elections allow all registered party members to vote directly for their preferred aspirants instead of using delegates.
The APC has previously used both direct and indirect primary systems in different election cycles, with debates often arising over transparency, logistics and internal party control. The appointment of governors and former governors as coordinators highlights the influence of state political structures within the ruling party.
Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s inclusion is particularly notable given recent political developments surrounding his relationship with major power blocs in Rivers politics.
The APC presidential primary scheduled for May 24, 2026, is expected to shape the party’s strategy ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
