ADC Revises 2026 Primary Schedule, Shifts Dates and Adjusts Fees for Aspirants
The African Democratic Congress moves key nomination and screening dates for presidential, governorship, and legislative aspirants, introducing fee concessions for women and persons with disabilities as it prepares for the 2027 general elections.
In a statement jointly signed by the party’s National Organising Secretary, Prince Chinedu Idigo, and National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said the changes were made in response to requests from aspirants and logistical considerations aimed at enhancing participation across all levels of the party’s nomination process.
Under the revised timetable, the submission of completed nomination form previously fixed for May 13, 2026 has been postponed by one day to May 14, 2026. This adjustment gives aspirants another window to complete and submit their documents ahead of internal screening.
The screening of aspirants a critical step to determine eligibility will now take place from May 16 to May 17, 2026, replacing the earlier scheduled dates. Following this process, the publication of screening results will be released on May 17, with appeals set for May 18 and May 19.
The party further noted that nomination lists of cleared aspirants will be published on May 20, 2026, after which internal primary elections will proceed as scheduled. While details of the final election days were not altered, the ADC affirmed that all other earlier announced dates remain intact.
According to the notice, screening for presidential and governorship aspirants will be held in Abuja, while legislative candidates will be screened in their respective states. The party also emphasised provisions for fee concessions, granting a 25 per cent reduction in nomination form costs to women and persons living with disabilities, reflecting its efforts to ensure broader inclusion.
The adjustment follows several weeks of intensive planning within the party’s leadership as it prepares to mobilise members nationwide for internal contests. Earlier announcements had pegged the presidential nomination form at higher fees, but recent revisions signalled an effort to ease financial burdens on would-be candidates.
In this latest amendment, there is evidence of the party’s effort to ensure that the primary process is undertaken within the timeline while taking into consideration the challenges posed to the aspirants. In this case, the party officials have advised the aspirants and the party members to take note of this new schedule and comply with it accordingly.
From the perspective of political observers, this kind of adjustment is not unusual considering that elections are usually around the corner and the political parties often face the need to align themselves against different logistics. According to the political observers, effective management of the nomination and screening processes will be key in coming up with credible candidates for the next election period.
While the ADC has continued with its internal processes, it should be noted that other political parties in the country have been coming out with their time table and fees structure for the next elections.
