ADC 2026 Primary Schedule: Form Sales, Screening, and Elections May 5‑27

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) announced on Sunday that the timetable for its 2026 primary elections is now official. National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi detailed a six‑week schedule that begins with the sale of nomination forms on 5 May 2026 and culminates in a Special National Convention on 27 May 2026.

Nomination period
Nomination forms will be available for purchase from 5 May to 10 May 2026. Completed forms must be submitted between 11 May and 13 May. The party will then conduct a two‑day screening of aspirants on 14 May and 15 May, with the results announced on 17 May.

Appeals and final list
Applicants who wish to contest the screening outcomes may file appeals on 18 May and 19 May. The final list of cleared candidates will be released on 20 May.

Primary elections
Primary voting starts on 21 May 2026, when ward‑level contests for State Houses of Assembly, the House of Representatives, and Senate seats will be held simultaneously. Governorship primaries are scheduled for the following day, 22 May, while the presidential primary will take place on 25 May. The National Executive Committee will meet on 26 May, and a Special National Convention on 27 May will ratify the party’s candidates.

Nomination fees
The ADC confirmed a structured fee regime for all elective positions: N100 million for the presidential ticket, N50 million for governorship, N20 million for Senate, N10 million for the House of Representatives, and N3 million for State House of Assembly nominations. To broaden participation, the party introduced discount rates—50 percent off for youth applicants and 25 percent off for women and persons with disabilities.

The release of the timetable underscores ADC’s stated commitment to internal democracy, orderly conduct, and full compliance with the Independent National Electoral Commission’s guidelines. Party officials appealed to members, stakeholders, and aspirants to adhere strictly to the schedule and procedural requirements.

The 2026 primary calendar positions the ADC to finalize its slate of candidates ahead of the general elections later in the year, aligning its internal processes with national electoral timelines.