APC legislative primaries will hold on August 22 for restored constituencies and bye-elections across five states, with forms closing on August 20
The All Progressives Congress has fixed Saturday, August 22, 2026, for its APC legislative primaries to select candidates for four restored State House of Assembly constituencies in Delta and Kogi states and five legislative bye-elections across Gombe, Bauchi, Delta and Kano states.
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The timetable, signed by APC National Organising Secretary Sulaiman Argungu and released on Wednesday, August 19, follows the Independent National Electoral Commission’s restoration of four previously suppressed State House of Assembly constituencies after court judgments.
The restored constituencies are Abraka, Isoko North II and Ughelli South II in Delta State, and Yagba West II in Kogi State.
The party will also conduct primaries for the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency in Gombe State, Disina and Sakwa State Constituencies in Bauchi, Udu State Constituency in Delta and Dawakin Kudu State Constituency in Kano.
The APC said the exercise was part of its timetable for selecting candidates for the restored constituencies and the 2026 legislative bye-elections.
The party opened the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms on Tuesday, August 18, with the process scheduled to close on Thursday, August 20. Completed forms and supporting documents must also be submitted by the August 20 deadline.
Screening of aspirants, publication of screening results and screening appeals are scheduled for Friday, August 21, one day before the primaries.
Election appeals will follow on Monday, August 24.
The financial requirements vary according to the legislative position. Aspirants for State House of Assembly seats are required to pay N1 million for an expression of interest form and N5 million for nomination, bringing the total to N6 million.
For House of Representatives positions, the expression of interest fee is N1 million, while the nomination fee is N9 million, making a combined N10 million.
The APC has provided concessions for some categories of aspirants.
Female, youth and physically challenged aspirants are required to pay the full expression of interest fee and 50 per cent of the prescribed nomination fee.
The party directed all aspirants to make payments directly into its designated bank account.
The restoration of the four State House of Assembly constituencies is particularly significant for affected communities, which had been left without direct representation in their respective state legislatures for several years.
INEC’s decision followed court judgments relating to the constituencies, allowing the electoral commission to restore them to the electoral structure.
The development means voters in the affected areas will once again have an opportunity to elect representatives specifically for those constituencies.
The APC’s decision to move quickly with its primaries also reflects the tight electoral timetable surrounding the 2026 legislative bye-elections.
The party must complete its internal selection process before its candidates can formally enter the wider electoral process.
The Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency contest follows the death of lawmaker Tongo Yaya, which left the federal seat vacant and created the need for a bye-election.
For the APC, the August 22 primaries will therefore serve two purposes: filling the party’s candidate slots for vacant legislative seats and preparing candidates for constituencies that have regained formal representation.
The exercise will also test the party’s internal organisation across five states as aspirants compete for the opportunity to represent the APC in the forthcoming legislative contests.
With screening scheduled just a day before voting, the party faces a compressed process that will require candidates and party officials to meet the timetable without delay.
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The outcome of the primaries will determine the APC candidates who will proceed to contest the affected seats, subject to the formal electoral process and INEC’s timetable for the respective bye-elections and restored constituencies.
