Following court rulings that prompted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to restore four previously suppressed State House of Assembly constituencies, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has scheduled its primary elections for Saturday, 22 August 2026.
The restored state constituencies include Abraka, Isoko North II, and Ughelli South II in Delta State, along with Yagba West II in Kogi State. These areas had been left without direct legislative representation for years prior to the judicial decisions.
In addition to these restored seats, the upcoming primaries will select APC candidates for legislative bye-elections across several states. These include the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency in Gombe State, which was vacated following the death of lawmaker Tongo Yaya, as well as the Disina and Sakwa State Constituencies in Bauchi, Udu in Delta, and Dawakin Kudu in Kano.
The schedule outlined by National Organising Secretary Sulaiman Argungu begins with the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms from 18 to 20 August, with 20 August also serving as the final deadline for the submission of completed forms and supporting documents.
Following this, the screening of aspirants, along with the publication of screening results and screening appeals, will take place on 21 August, ahead of the primary elections on 22 August. The process will conclude with the submission and hearing of election appeals on 24 August.
Financial requirements for prospective candidates have also been set. State House of Assembly aspirants face a total cost of ₦6 million (comprising a ₦1 million expression of interest fee and a ₦5 million nomination fee). For House of Representatives aspirants, the total fee stands at ₦10 million (a ₦1 million expression of interest fee plus a ₦9 million nomination fee).
The APC stated that “Female Aspirants, Youth and Physically Challenged Aspirants are to pay for the Expression of Interest and 50% of the prescribed Nomination fees for each position.” The party also instructed that “all payments should be made in full directly into the designated bank account of the All Progressives Congress.”