The All Progressives Congress (APC) has postponed the House of Representatives primary, planned for today until Saturday May 16, 2026.
However, a statement by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka late yesterday indicated that previously announced dates for the conduct of primary elections for the Senate, State Houses of Assembly, Governorship and Presidential remain unaltered.
The primary elections will now be held as follows: House of Representatives – Saturday 16th May, 2026, Senate – Monday 18th May, 2026, State House of Assembly – Wednesday 20th May, 2026 and Governorship – Thursday 21st May, 2026.
The announcement said the presidential primary will proceed on Saturday, May 23, 2026, as originally scheduled. There was no delay caused by Morka.
However, sources told our correspondent yesterday night that the change of a day was owing to the delay in addressing issues highlighted by several hopefuls who had problems with their screening.
He said the delay hindered logistics arrangement especially for representatives of the party to be dispatched to states to supervise the primaries.
When the screening results were announced, the party authorities indicated that those with concerns with their screening had been contacted, adding that most of the problems had been resolved.
He pledged, however, that the findings will be announced before the primaries begin tomorrow.
The screening result was to be announced on Wednesday for the appeal committee to sit and decide on the cases by yesterday for applicants to know their fate.
Our correspondent was told that the party could not disclose the findings as at 10 pm yesterday and decided to communicate to all the aspirants on their respective platforms as a comprehensive report of the exercise could not be ready at that time.
A reliable source at the party’s national secretariat told our correspondent at the time of reporting this story that the party was still putting finishing touches to the list of cleared contestants.
Two other sources told our correspondent last night that the national officials alongside the governors of the APC wanted to go for consensus in the selection of its 360 candidates for the House of Representatives but they could not get the by-in of hundreds of contenders for the seats in many states.
“Honestly, we saw this coming as many aspirants in some states stood their grounds that they wanted to go for primaries to try their luck,” one of the sources, an insider in the APC, said.
The modest tweak, he explained, was to obtain more mileage in the number of hopefuls who would go along with the consensus agreement.
The other source, who spoke for the same reason, said the party was also working to address logistic shortages in places where direct primaries would be held.
“Many states have reached consensus for most of their House of Representatives’ seats, it is clear, but there are places we have to go for direct primaries.
And you know the second alternative will involve a lot of logistics like security arrangements and getting card holding members of the party to come out to vote.
“So there are a lot of things to be done, so a little adjustment.
“It’s really nothing serious; but we don’t want to take any chances. “They are waiting for us to make a mistake and then they will hang onto it to de-market us,” he claimed.
Today, primaries for the 360 House of Representatives members in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory should begin.
As many as 821 hopefuls were said to have acquired forms to contest for the APC Reps tickets.
Our medium’s reporters learnt that the party has examined over 2,500 contenders for the House of Representatives, Senate and Governorship positions.
Reports say results for the State Houses of Assembly have already been announced through the similar processes in the states leading to protests as some party stalwarts threatened to defect.
Correspondents indicate that as at yesterday, hopefuls were yet to be sure if they sailed past the screening since there has been no official report on those that have been passed.
Tinubu tells aspirants: Don’t damage the boat if you lose
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu meanwhile cautioned contestants to steer clear of a rancorous primary, and charged those that may lose out not to rock the boat.
President Tinubu in a statement he personally signed also called on party leaders and state governors to be fair and just to all contestants saying, “Our opponents are waiting for us to be against each other; we should disappoint them.
The president said the primary elections, which start with those for hopefuls for the House of Representatives and end with the presidential primaries on May 25, 2026, are not just exercises to generate standard bearers.
They are a referendum on our unity, resilience and strength as a party. They provide an opportunity to renew the ties and principles that we share,” he said.
“Party leaders at different levels have started discussions to arrive at consensus candidates,” he said, adding, “It is a good option that would help to reduce rancour and bad blood among party members.”
“When there is no consensus, the aspirants should go to the primaries as brothers and sisters,” the president stated. “All those who contest primaries, either as contestants or voters, must maintain peace and be ready to play as sportsmen and women in the overall interest of the party and our country.
We can’t afford divisive behavior or the degradation of our democracy and party unity. In every competition, somebody wins and somebody loses. I urge the winners not to revel in triumph and the losers to exhibit sportsmanship, taking things in their stride and preparing for another time.
The ultimate winners are not those who choose to ruin the boat, but undertake the work to get themselves ready for another round. Our opponents are waiting for us to turn on each other; let’s disappoint them.
“Winners and party chiefs at all levels should offer olive branches to those who did not succeed. We should not play old politics, the do or die politics we have left behind. Politics should never be a zero sum game. Any candidate who wins does so for everyone in the party. Those who did not make it might appeal to the party’s committees established up for redress”.
He also took the opportunity to urge party leaders, governors and other stakeholders “to be fair and just. You have to get past sentimentality to give all candidates a level playing field that assures participation unencumbered by let or hindrance. For every seat contested, only one person will win, thus we should give future losers the satisfaction of a fair contest.
“I am very keen on including women and youth. I also call to the voters in the primaries and leaders at all levels to give special consideration to our women and young in the contest. We cannot afford to discount the two major groups of our populace.
“The police and other security agencies must be professional and not be interlopers in this exercise. Your obligations are only connected with the pacific exercise. Nothing else,” he warned.
Speaker Abbas, other important officers under watch – Kalu
Our correspondents said the eyes are on the principal executives of the House of Reps and those who have spent more than two terms in the Green Chamber and are seeking return tickets.
The presiding officers include Speaker Abbas Tajuddeen, representing Zaria Federal Constituency and will be seeking for the 5th term. He is one of those who would be voted in by affirmation as no one has bought the ticket to run against him.
There is also the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, from Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State, who is seeking a third term. He first announced he would run for the governorship in his state, but eventually bowed out of that race to pursue another term in the House.
The incumbent Owan Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives, Professor Julius Ihonvebere, is expected to face three other aspirants in the primary election.
Ihonvebere who is seeking re-election into the House of Representative for the third time will contest with former member of NADECO, Abdul Oroh, Andrew Ijegba, Folly Ogedengbe, Dr. Afolabi Umakhihe and one other.
Prof. Ohonvebere is reported to enjoy the endorsement and backing of the Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo and APC leaders in the Owan Federal Constituency.
A source stated Ihonvebere is seeking a third term against the gentleman agreement of two term for Owan West and Two term for Owan East Local government and Ihonvebere who is from Owan West is on his second term.
Meanwhile, Umakhihe has stepped down from the race after talks with the leader of the party in the state.
The current House of Representatives Chief Whip, Usman Bello Kumo, is also in his third term while Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, is rumored to have obtained forms to contest as governor in Rivers state
Sada Soli from Katsina State representing Jibia/Kaita Federal Constituency is serving more than two terms and still looking for office. Soli was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2007 and represented Jibia/Kaita from 2007 to 2011.
Another is Salisu Yusuf Majigiri representing Mashi/Dutsi of APC. He is in his 2nd term and is running for a 3rd.
The longest-serving members of the House of Representatives in Kano are Alhassan Ado Doguwa and Tijjani Abdulkadir Jobe who were elected to the green chamber in 2007.
However Doguwa who represents Tudunwada/Doguwa federal constituency had represented the constituency between 1992-1993. On the other hand, Jobe represents Dawakin Tofa/Tofa/Rimin Gado constituency.
They have again been selected as the consensus candidates to represent their constituencies for the sixth term.
Abdulmumin Jibrin, who represents the Kiru/Bebeji constituency and has been in the House since 2011, follows closely.
He was also adopted as the APC consensus candidate to contest for the fifth term. All the competitors had withdrawn following a reconciliation mediated by the governor. It was learned they were merely waiting for the day to be finalized.
In Sokoto State, everybody that contested under APC got tickets through consensus.
Hassan Bala Abubakar is arguably the closest to a “old timer” in the House of Representatives from Sokoto State. He has been representing Sokoto North/Sokoto South Federal Constituency under APC since 2015 to date without any break. He has also obtained his party’s ticket to return to the House for a fourth term.
Aliyu Ibrahim Mustapha is another lawmaker who is serving his second term and pursuing a third one. He is presently representing Wurno/Rabah Federal Constituency and seeking re-election in next general election.
He is now serving his second term. Muhammad Saidu Bargaja, representing Isa/Sabon Birni Federal Constituency He was elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2023. He’s also seeking a third term and has won the APC ticket.
There is also Mani Maishinko Katami of Binji/Silame Federal Constituency. He is presently completing his second term, after first being elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2023. He is now seeking another term on the ADC
The most senior member of the House of Representatives from Borno State is Aliyu Muktar Betara, representing the Biu/Bayo/Shani/Kwaya Kusar Federal Constituency.
Betara, a fourth term member, is now seeking a fifth term re-election into the Green Chamber and by all indications he will fly the ticket unopposed.
Mallam Gana Bukar Kareto is the second longest serving member of the House of Representatives, representing Kukawa/Mobbar/Abadam/Guzamalai Federal Constituency. He is serving his third term.
But Kareto may not be as lucky as Betara, as the previous APC Woman Leader, Hajiya Fati Kakenna, picked the nomination form to contest for his job.
Also, there are speculations that the former Woman Leader has the backing of the power that be within the party and the state.
Abdulkadir Rahis, third term member of the Green Chamber representing Maiduguri (Metropolitan) Federal Constituency.
Rep Rahis has picked candidacy papers to contest for his fourth term re-election but will have four other contenders to duke it out with.
Most of the hopefuls would be fighting it out through direct primaries except those who would be affirmed by affirmation.
A serving member from the Borno State who spoke to our correspondent at the time of going to press yesterday, said the process was still underway and candidates were not being compelled to make decisions. He claimed Governor Babagana Umara Zulum designated the party consensus committee and appointed former governors, former ambassadors/diplomats who are members of APC to chair them.
“So far, the consensus was quite open, no one was pushed to withdraw but some aspirants have started quitting. Aspirants of Bama/Kala balge/Ngala in Borno Central were engaged but the verdict is yet to be disclosed. Some candidates, like Grema Terab, have withdrawn. “Now it is Borno metropolitan before the Jere federal constituencies,” the insider stated.
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