APC Picks Direct Mode for Presidential Ticket as 2027 Race Intensifies

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially adopted the direct primary mode for its 2026 presidential primary election, allowing all registered members of the party across the country to participate in the process.

The party announced the development in guidelines and committee lists released by its National Secretariat in Abuja ahead of the primary scheduled for May 24, 2026.

Under the direct primary arrangement, voting will take place across all 8,809 wards nationwide, with party members expected to vote directly for their preferred presidential aspirants.

According to the APC, results from the ward level will be collated at local government levels before final transmission to the national collation centre in Abuja.

The party stated that the exercise would be supervised in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory by designated state coordinators and collation officers appointed by the leadership of the party.

The APC also clarified that the presidential primary would be conducted in line with the “Procedure for the Conduct of Direct and Consensus Mode of Primaries” earlier submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on May 15, 2026.

Former Senate President, Senator Pius Anyim, was named Chairman of the Presidential Primary Election Committee.

Other members of the committee include former Senate President Ken Nnamani, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, former Kwara Deputy Governor Grace Titi Laoye-Ponle, former Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, former Kogi State Governor Idris Wada, while Senator Sanusi Musa will serve as secretary.

The party also constituted a Presidential Primary Election Appeal Committee headed by former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume.

Other members of the appeal committee include Samuel Pwajok, who will serve as secretary, alongside former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Patricia Etteh.

Several serving and former governors were appointed as coordinators and collation officers for various states.

Among those listed is Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who recently withdrew from the APC governorship primary election in his state.

Other governors named by the party include Hope Uzodimma for Imo State, Umo Eno for Akwa Ibom, Douye Diri for Bayelsa, Hyacinth Alia for Benue, Babagana Zulum for Borno, Sheriff Oborevwori for Delta, Francis Nwifuru for Ebonyi, Monday Okpebholo for Edo, Peter Mbah for Enugu, Umar Namadi for Jigawa and Uba Sani for Kaduna.

The list also includes Babajide Sanwo-Olu for Lagos, Mohammed Umar Bago for Niger, Lucky Aiyedatiwa for Ondo, Caleb Mutfwang for Plateau, Agbu Kefas for Taraba, Dauda Lawal for Zamfara and former Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

According to the document signed by APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, the state coordinators and collation officers will be responsible for organising the direct primary process within their respective states and ensuring the collation of local government results.

“The organisation and conduct of the direct primary in each of the 36 states and the FCT shall be the responsibility of the State Coordinator and Collation Officer, who shall also collate the results of all the local governments in the state and present same to the Presidential Primary Election Committee in Abuja,” the document stated.

The APC leadership said the adoption of direct primaries reflects the party’s commitment to internal democracy and wider participation of its members in selecting its presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Political observers say the direct primary model could significantly influence internal alignments and grassroots mobilisation within the ruling party as the race for the presidency intensifies.