All Progressives Congress has unveiled a detailed timeline for its internal elections leading to a national convention in March 2026, imposing nomination fees up to 10 million naira ($6,000) for top posts as it seeks to refresh leadership amid preparations for the next general polls.
The schedule, released pursuant to the party’s constitution, kicks off with electronic membership registration from January 31 to February 8, followed by ward congresses on February 18, local government congresses on February 21, state congresses on March 3, zonal congresses on March 25, and culminating in the national convention from March 27 to 28.
Form sales for various levels begin in early February, with screenings and appeals slotted in to ensure orderly processes.
For national positions, aspirants must pay 100,000 naira for expression of interest forms, plus nomination fees of 10 million naira for the chairmanship, 7.5 million for deputy national chairmen and the national secretary, and lower amounts for other roles.
State-level chairmanship carries a one-million-naira nomination fee after a 50,000-naira expression payment, while ward chairmen face 20,000 naira for nomination following a 5,000-naira initial form.
The party offers 50-percent discounts on nomination fees for women, youths and persons with disabilities, after settling the full expression of interest cost.
Zonal congresses will convene in designated cities: Ibadan for the southwest, Enugu for the southeast, Rivers or Cross River for the south-south, Kaduna for the northwest, Gombe or Bauchi for the northeast, and Nasarawa for the north-central.
The exercise aims to bolster the APC’s structure ahead of 2027 elections, where President Bola Tinubu is expected to seek re-election amid economic challenges and opposition critiques.
