The All Progressives Congress, APC, has formally written to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to notify it of its planned primary elections and forward its timetable of activities.
The notification marks a key procedural step in the build-up to the party’s preparations for forthcoming elections, as political parties are required to keep the electoral commission informed of their schedules for primaries and related internal processes.
By forwarding its timetable to INEC, the ruling party has now officially signalled the commencement of its internal electoral process, which is expected to cover the sale of forms, screening of aspirants, appeals, and the conduct of primary elections for various offices.
The move is in line with established electoral procedures that require political parties to give the commission adequate notice of their activities, especially those relating to the nomination of candidates.
The APC’s action is expected to set the stage for consultations, mobilisation, and political realignments within the party as aspirants and stakeholders begin to position themselves ahead of the primaries.
Party primaries remain a critical phase in Nigeria’s electoral cycle because they determine the candidates political parties will present for elections. They also serve as a major test of internal democracy, transparency, and party discipline.
With the formal notification now made, attention is expected to shift to the contents of the timetable, the dates fixed for key exercises, and how the party manages competing interests among aspirants across the country.
The development comes as political activities gradually gather pace ahead of the next general election cycle, with major parties expected to roll out plans for candidate selection and campaign preparations in the months ahead.
INEC, as the electoral umpire, is expected to monitor the process in line with its constitutional and statutory responsibilities, particularly to ensure compliance with the Electoral Act and relevant guidelines governing party primaries.
The APC has repeatedly said it is committed to credible, orderly, and transparent primaries, amid expectations from members and observers that the process will reflect fairness and strengthen confidence in the party’s internal mechanisms.
