•Tinubu
The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday shifted the House of Representatives primary scheduled to commence today to Saturday, May 16, 2026.
A statement by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka late yesterday, however, said previously announced primary election dates for the Senate, State Houses of Assembly, Governorship and Presidential remain unchanged, reports Daily Trust.
He said the primary elections will now be held as follows, House of Representatives – Saturday, May 16, 2026, Senate – Monday, May 18,, 2026, State House of Assembly – Wednesday, May 20, 2026 and Governorship – Thursday, May 21, 2026.
The statement added that the presidential primary will still hold on Saturday, May 23, 2026, as earlier scheduled. Morka did not give reason for postponement.
But sources told our correspondent last night that the shift by one day is due to the delay in resolving issues raised by some aspirants who had problems with their screening.
He said the delay affected logistics arrangement, especially for officials of the party who were to be dispatched to states to monitor the primaries.
On the release of the result of the screening, the party officials said those that had problems with their screening had been contacted, adding that most of the issues had been addressed.
He assured that the results will be released before the commencement of the primaries tomorrow.
The result of the screening was supposed to be out on Wednesday for the appeal committee to sit and determine the cases by yesterday so that the aspirants would know their fate.
Sources told our correspondent that as the party could not release the report as at 10 pm yesterday, it chose to communicate to all the aspirants on their individual platforms as a comprehensive report of the exercise could not be ready at that time.
A reliable source at the national secretariat of the party told our correspondent at the time of filing this report that the party was still putting finishing touches to the list of cleared aspirants.
Two other sources told our correspondent, last night, that while the national officials alongside the governors of the APC wanted to go for consensus in selecting its 360 candidates for the House of Representatives, they were unable to get the by-in of hundreds of contenders for the seats in many states.
“Honesty, we predicted that we would get here because 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.
He said the little adjustment was to get more mileage in the number of aspirants that would agree to the consensus arrangement.
The other source, who spoke along the same reason, added that the party was also trying to address logistic gaps in places where direct primaries would be held.
“It is evident that while many states have agreed on consensus for most of their House of Representatives seats, there are places that we have to go for direct primaries.
“And you know that the second option will require a lot of logistics like security arrangements and ensuring that card carrying members of the party come out to vote.
“So, there are a lot of things to be done, hence the little adjustment.
“It is actually not a big deal; but we don’t want to take chances. The opposition parties are waiting for us to make a mistake so that they can latch on it to de-market us,” he said.
Primaries for the 360 House of Representatives seats across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory was expected to commence today.
No less than 821 aspirants reportedly bought forms to contest for the APC Reps tickets.
Our correspondents learnt that over 2,500 aspirants for the House of Representatives, Senate, and Governorship positions were screened by the party.
Reports indicate that results for the State Houses of Assembly have already been released through the same processes in the states leading to protests where some party stalwarts threatened defection.
Our correspondents report that as at yesterday, aspirants were still not sure if they had sailed through the screening as there has been no official report on those that have been cleared.
Don’t wreck the boat if you lose out, Tinubu appeals to aspirants
Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu enjoined aspirants to avoid a rancourous primary, charging those that might lose out not to wreck 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 aspirants, adding that “Our opponents are waiting for us to be against each other; we should disappoint them.”
The president noted that the primary elections, kicking off with those for House of Representatives aspirants and culminating in the presidential primaries on May 25, 2026, are not mere exercises to produce standard bearers.
“They are a referendum on our unity, resilience and strength as a party. They present an opportunity to renew the bond and ideals that we share,” he said.
He said party leaders at various levels have initiated conversations to produce consensus candidates, adding, “It is a commendable option that would help in reducing rancour and bad blood among party members.”
The president said where consensus fails, aspirants should go into the primaries as brothers and sisters. “All participants in the primaries, as contestants or voters, must keep the peace and be ready to play as sportsmen and women in the overall interest of the party and our country.
“We cannot afford rancorous conduct or the debasement of our democracy and party unity. In every contest, there will be a winner and a loser. I urge the winners not to gloat in victory and the losers to show sportsmanship by taking things in their stride and preparing for another time.
“The ultimate winners are those who don’t choose to wreck the boat but rather work to prepare for another round. Our opponents are waiting for us to be against each other; we should disappoint them.
“Winners and party leaders at all levels should reach out to those who did not succeed with olive branches. We should not play the politics of old; the do-or-die politics that we have put behind us. Politics should never be a zero-sum game. Any candidate that wins does so for all of us as a party. Those who lost out have the opportunity to appeal to the party’s committees set up for redress.”
He also used the occasion to call on party leaders, governors, and other stakeholders “to be fair and just. You must rise above sentiment to offer all aspirants a level playing field that guarantees participation without let or hindrance. While only one person will win for every seat contested, we should give eventual losers the satisfaction of a fair contest.
“The inclusion of women and youth is dear to my heart. I appeal to voters in the primaries and leaders at all levels to give special consideration to our women and youth in the contest. We cannot afford to relegate the two significant demographics of our population.
“The police and other security agencies must remain professional and avoid acting as interlopers during this exercise. Your duties strictly centre on ensuring peaceful exercise. Nothing more,” he warned.
Eyes on Speaker Abbas, Kalu, other principal officers
Our correspondents observed that eyes are on the principal officers of the House of Reps and those who have spent more than two terms in the Green Chamber that are seeking return tickets.
The presiding officers include Speaker Abbas Tajuddeen who represents Zaria Federal Constituency and will be contesting for the 5th term. He is among those that would be elected through affirmation as no one has bought the ticket to run against him.
There’s also the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu who represents Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State who is seeking a third term. He initially said he was going to contest the governorship position in his state but later withdrew from the race to seek another term in the House.
Majority leader of the House of Representative, Prof Julius Ihonvebere, will likely face three opponents in the primary for the Owan Federal Constituency ticket .
Ihonvebere, who is seeking reelection into the House of Representative for the third time will face former member of NADECO, Abdul Oroh, Andrew Ijegba, Folly Ogedengbe, Dr. Afolabi Umakhihe and one other.
Prof. Ohonvebere is believed to have the backing and support of the Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo and APC leaders in the Owan Federal Constituency.
A source said 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 in his second term.
Meanwhile, Umakhihe has withdrawn from the contest after consulting with the leader of the party in the state.
The current Chief Whip of the House, Usman Bello Kumo, is also in his third term while Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, is said to have obtained forms to run as governor in Rivers State
Among those who have served more than two terms and are still seeking office include, Sada Soli from Katsina State representing the Jibia/Kaita Federal Constituency. Soli first entered the House of Representatives in 2007 and represented Jibia/Kaita from 2007 to 2011.
Another is Salisu Yusuf Majigiri representing Mashi/Dutsi under the APC. He is currently serving his 2nd term and vying for a third.
In Kano, the longest serving members of the House of Representatives are Alhassan Ado Doguwa and Tijjani Abdulkadir Jobe, who both joined the green chamber in 2007.
Doguwa, who represents Tudunwada/Doguwa federal constituency has, however, represented the constituency from 1992-1993. Jobe on the other hand represents Dawakin Tofa/Tofa/Rimin Gado constituency.
They have been selected again as the consensus candidates to represent their constituencies for the sixth term.
The duo are closely followed by Abdulmumin Jibrin, who represents the Kiru/Bebeji constituency, who has been in the House since 2011.
He was also selected as the APC consensus candidate to run for the fifth term. All their contenders have stepped down after the governor brokered reconciliation. They are just waiting for the day to be ratified, it was gathered.
In Sokoto State; all those vying under APC secured their tickets through consensus.
Hassan Bala Abubakar can be regarded as the closest thing to an “old timer” in the House of Representatives from Sokoto State. He has represented Sokoto North/Sokoto South Federal Constituency under the APC from 2015 to date without any break. He has also secured his party’s ticket to return to the House for a fourth term.
Another lawmaker is Aliyu Ibrahim Mustapha, who is currently serving his second term and is seeking a third term. He currently represents Wurno/Rabah Federal Constituency and is seeking re-election in the upcoming general election.
Muhammad Saidu Bargaja, who represents Isa/Sabon Birni Federal Constituency, is currently serving his second term. He was first elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2023. He is also seeking a third term and has secured the APC ticket.
There’s also Mani Maishinko Katami of Binji/Silame Federal Constituency. He is currently serving his second term after first being elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2023. He is now seeking another term under the ADC
In Borno, the oldest member of the House of Representatives from the State is Aliyu Muktar Betara, representing Biu/Bayo/Shani/Kwaya Kusar Federal Constituency.
Betara, a fourth term member, is now seeking fifth term re-election into the Green Chamber and by all indications he will fly the ticket unopposed.
Mallam Gana Bukar Kareto, who is serving his third term, is the second longest serving House of Representatives, representing Kukawa/Mobbar/Abadam/Guzamalai Federal Constituency.
However, Kareto may not be so lucky as Betara as the former APC Woman Leader, Hajiya Fati Kakenna, obtained the nomination form to contest his position.
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, is third term member of the Green Chamber, representing Maiduguri (Metropolitan) Federal Constituency.
Rep Rahis obtained nomination forms to seek his fourth term re-election, but four other aspirants will slug it out with him.
Except those who will be confirmed through affirmation, most of the aspirants would be slugging it out through direct primaries.
As of press time yesterday, a serving member from Borno State, told our correspondent that the process was still ongoing and aspirants were not being forced to take decisions. He said Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, had zoned the party consensus committee and assigned former governors, former ambassadors/diplomats, who are members of APC to head them.
“So far, the consensus is very transparent, nobody was forced to withdraw, but some aspirants have started withdrawing. In Borno Central, aspirants of Bama/Kala balge/Ngala were engaged but the outcome is still not known. Some candidates like Grema Terab have withdrawn. Now it’s the turn of Borno metropolitan before the Jere federal constituencies,” the source said.
