Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has unveiled a detailed schedule for its nationwide ward, local government, state, and zonal congresses, leading up to the party’s National Convention in March 2026. The timetable, issued from the party’s National Secretariat at Buhari House in Abuja, marks the beginning of a structured internal democratic process to elect new officials at all levels.
The document, signed by the APC National Secretary, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, emphasizes compliance with Articles 11 and 17 of the party’s constitution. It outlines a phased approach starting with membership updates and progressing through grassroots elections, with built-in mechanisms for screening aspirants and handling appeals to ensure transparency and fairness.
The process kicks off with a nationwide Membership e-Registration exercise, commencing on Monday, January 1, 2025, and concluding on Thursday, January 30, 2026. This extended period aims to update and validate the party’s membership database ahead of the congresses.
The foundational elections begin at the ward and local government levels. Notice of the congresses will be issued to state and FCT chapters on Monday, February 2, 2026. Aspirants can purchase and submit nomination forms for ward and LGA positions from Wednesday, February 4 to Monday, February 9, 2026. Screening of aspirants will take place from Tuesday, February 10 to Friday, February 13, 2026. Ward Congresses are scheduled for Saturday, February 14, 2026, while Local Government Area Congresses, including the election of three national convention delegates per LGA (with at least one female), will hold on Thursday, February 19, 2026. Dedicated appeal windows are provided, with ward appeals on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, and LGA appeals on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
The timetable then progresses to the state level. Forms for state executive positions will be available for purchase from Monday, February 23 to Friday, February 27, 2026. Screening for state executives will occur from Monday, March 2 to Wednesday, March 4, 2026. The election of State Executive Committees through State Congresses is set for Saturday, March 7, 2026, with appeals handled from Monday, March 9 to Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
Zonal activities follow shortly thereafter. Nomination forms for zonal congresses and the national convention can be purchased and submitted from Thursday, March 12 to Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Zonal Congresses will take place simultaneously on Saturday, March 21, 2026, across designated centers in the six geopolitical zones: Ibadan for the South West, Enugu for the South East, Rivers/Cross River for the South South, Kaduna for the North West, Gombe/Bauchi for the North East, and Nasarawa for the North Central. Appeals arising from zonal congresses will be addressed on Monday, March 23, 2026.
The climax of the exercise will be the National Convention, scheduled from Wednesday, March 25 to Saturday, March 28, 2026, where national officers will be elected and key party decisions made.
Senator Basiru’s release underscores the importance of this renewal process in strengthening the APC’s structures ahead of future electoral challenges. Political analysts view the timetable as a strategic move to consolidate internal unity under President Bola Tinubu’s administration while providing clear guidelines to minimize disputes that have plagued past party congresses.
Party stakeholders have welcomed the announcement, with calls for aspirants to prepare accordingly and members to participate actively in the e-registration drive. The APC, as Nigeria’s governing party, continues to position itself as a progressive force through such democratic exercises.
The foundational elections begin at the ward and local government levels. Notice of the congresses will be issued to state and FCT chapters on Monday, February 2, 2026. Aspirants can purchase and submit nomination forms for ward and LGA positions from Wednesday, February 4 to Monday, February 9, 2026. Screening of aspirants will take place from Tuesday, February 10 to Friday, February 13, 2026. Ward Congresses are scheduled for Saturday, February 14, 2026, while Local Government Area Congresses, including the election of three national convention delegates per LGA (with at least one female), will hold on Thursday, February 19, 2026. Dedicated appeal windows are provided, with ward appeals on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, and LGA appeals on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
The timetable then progresses to the state level. Forms for state executive positions will be available for purchase from Monday, February 23 to Friday, February 27, 2026. Screening for state executives will occur from Monday, March 2 to Wednesday, March 4, 2026. The election of State Executive Committees through State Congresses is set for Saturday, March 7, 2026, with appeals handled from Monday, March 9 to Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
Zonal activities follow shortly thereafter. Nomination forms for zonal congresses and the national convention can be purchased and submitted from Thursday, March 12 to Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Zonal Congresses will take place simultaneously on Saturday, March 21, 2026, across designated centers in the six geopolitical zones: Ibadan for the South West, Enugu for the South East, Rivers/Cross River for the South South, Kaduna for the North West, Gombe/Bauchi for the North East, and Nasarawa for the North Central. Appeals arising from zonal congresses will be addressed on Monday, March 23, 2026.
The climax of the exercise will be the National Convention, scheduled from Wednesday, March 25 to Saturday, March 28, 2026, where national officers will be elected and key party decisions made.
Senator Basiru’s release underscores the importance of this renewal process in strengthening the APC’s structures ahead of future electoral challenges. Political analysts view the timetable as a strategic move to consolidate internal unity under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, while providing clear guidelines to minimize disputes that have plagued past party congresses.
Party stakeholders have welcomed the announcement, with calls for aspirants to prepare accordingly and members to participate actively in the e-registration drive. The APC, as Nigeria’s governing party, continues to position itself as a progressive force through such democratic exercises.
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