NIGERIA — Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress commences its primary elections for the House of Representatives on Friday, May 15, 2026, amid reports of internal tensions across several states.
Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a statement released on Thursday, May 14, 2026, urged party members and aspirants to maintain discipline and accept the results of the contests.
Okay News reports that Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu said the exercises serve as a referendum on the unity and strength of the All Progressives Congress as the party enters its fourth election cycle.
“In every contest, there will be a winner and a loser. I urge the winners not to gloat in victory and the losers to show sportsmanship by taking things in their stride and preparing for another time,” Bola Ahmed Tinubu said. He added, “The ultimate winners are those who don’t choose to wreck the boat but rather work to prepare for another round. Our opponents are waiting for us to be against each other; we should disappoint them.”
The President said that wherever consensus had already been reached among aspirants, it should be maximised to reduce friction. He directed party governors and leaders to offer all aspirants a level playing field and instructed the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to limit their roles to maintaining peace during the exercise.
In Abia State, Nigeria’s Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, stated during a stakeholders’ meeting in Umuahia on Thursday that the party would not impose candidates. The All Progressives Congress in Abia State confirmed that three governorship aspirants, nine senatorial aspirants, 24 House of Representatives aspirants, and 64 House of Assembly aspirants purchased nomination forms.
In Kano State, the All Progressives Congress Publicity Secretary, Auwal Soja, confirmed that consultations for consensus candidates for the 24 federal constituency seats continued late into Thursday evening. The All Progressives Congress State Publicity Secretary in Taraba State, Aaron Artimas, announced that the party reconstituted a committee to negotiate with aggrieved aspirants after consensus talks collapsed in constituencies including Takum, Donga, Ussa, Kurmi, Nguroje, and Wukari.
In Borno State, the All Progressives Congress adopted Mustapha Gubio as a consensus governorship candidate following consultations led by Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum. The All Progressives Congress primaries follow the Electoral Act 2026, which reduced the statutory notice period for elections from 360 to 300 days. The exercise is scheduled to run through to the presidential primary on May 25, 2026.
