The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially set the stage for a major leadership transition, announcing that its crucial National Convention will be held from Wednesday, 25 March to Saturday, 28 March 2026. The party's roadmap, which includes a series of congresses at various levels, was made public on Saturday, 21 December 2025.
A Structured Roadmap to the Convention
According to a detailed timetable signed by the party's National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, the entire process is designed to comply with Articles 11 and 17 of the APC Constitution. The objective is the election of party officials across all administrative tiers, starting from the grassroots.
The first phase, membership e-registration, began on 1 December 2025 and is scheduled to conclude on 30 January 2026. This will be followed by the formal issuance of congress notices to state chapters and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on 2 February 2026.
Key Dates for Ward, LGA, and State Congresses
The purchase and submission of forms for ward and local government congresses are slated for 4 to 9 February 2026. Screening committees for these levels will be inaugurated on 10 February, with aspirant screening running from 11 to 13 February.
Ward congresses are fixed for 18 February, with appeals to be heard the following day, 19 February. Immediately after, Local Government Congresses will hold on 20 February. A significant part of this process is the election of three delegates from each LGA to the national convention, with a mandatory provision that one of these delegates must be a woman. Appeals for LGA congresses are scheduled for 21 February.
At the state level, activities intensify in late February. The purchase of forms for state executive positions will occur from 23 to 27 February 2026. Screening and appeals for state executives are planned for the end of February and early March, culminating in the State Congresses on Saturday, 7 March 2026. A window for appeals from these congresses is set for 9 to 11 March.
Zonal Congresses and the Grand Finale
The party will then proceed to the zonal level. The purchase and submission of forms for both zonal congresses and the national convention are scheduled between 12 and 17 March. Zonal congresses will be inaugurated on 18 March, with aspirant screening on 19 and 20 March.
The pivotal Zonal Congresses across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones will all hold on Saturday, 21 March 2026. The party has designated specific cities for each zonal office:
- South West: Ibadan
- South East: Enugu
- South South: Rivers/Cross River
- North West: Kaduna
- North East: Gombe/Bauchi
- North Central: Nasarawa
Appeals from the zonal congresses will be addressed on 23 March, clearing the path for the main event.
The extensive timetable concludes with the APC National Convention, a four-day event running from 25 to 28 March 2026. This convention is expected to shape the party's leadership and strategic direction ahead of future electoral cycles.
