Primary winners still waiting as party headquarters hold final say on candidates
By Victor Idajili
Despite wrapping up primary elections over the weekend, most aspirants who won party tickets still don’t know if they’ll make it to the ballot. Party national secretariats say only their National Working Committees can announce the final list of candidates for the 2027 elections.
For now, no certificates of return or party flags have been handed to winners at state level. Party officials say the NWCs must first verify results, deal with appeals, and ratify names before submitting them to INEC.
INEC’s schedule gives parties from April 23 to May 30 to conclude primaries and settle appeals. Since the deadline falls on non-working days, party sources expect final lists to be cleared soon.
APC: Only NWC can declare winners
APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda said no state chapter or electoral committee has authority to announce primary winners.
“States cannot announce winners until the NWC gives its verdict,” he said in a live TV interview. All results from states, he explained, must be sent to the party’s Abuja secretariat for final verification.
A party source said APC’s appeal committees have submitted reports and the NWC will meet “any moment from now.” The final candidate list could be out as early as Monday.
The delay follows disputes in Nasarawa, Bauchi, Kwara, Oyo, Delta, Kogi and others. Former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Age and retired IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, who contested in Nasarawa, both quit the party alleging irregularities.
Article 19 of the APC constitution backs the process: candidate lists from primaries must go to the NWC for ratification after appeals are settled.
Former INEC commissioner Nick Dazang said parties can set their own rules as long as their constitutions allow it. “INEC’s role is to observe. It’s left to you to check if their constitutions actually say that,” he told our correspondent.
ADC: Most results approved, some pending
The African Democratic Congress said its National Executive Committee has approved primary results for state assemblies, National Assembly, governorship and presidential tickets — except those with pending appeals as of May 29, 2026, or those not yet concluded.
ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi said the governorship and Senate candidate list will be ready by today. He added that NEC extended Senator David Mark’s NWC tenure for another 12 months.
Disputes were recorded in Ogun, Kano, Bauchi, Benue, Adamawa and other states, but party sources expect most announced results to stand.
NDC: Disregard social media results
The Nigeria Democratic Congress urged the public to ignore results circulating online for its May 28–29 primaries. National Publicity Secretary Osa Director said results are with the National Executive Committee, which will announce them officially.
Senator Seriake Dickson, the party’s national leader, has called a NEC meeting. Members arrive in Abuja Tuesday for a pre-NEC session, with the main meeting set for Wednesday, June 3, 2026. “Stakeholders will get the list of candidates when we send it to INEC,” Director said.
Activist Aisha Yesufu had accused opponents of rigging the FCT Senate primary.
PDP Wike faction, APGA also affected
The PDP faction loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike said its candidate list will be ready after the break. National Publicity Secretary Jungudo Haruna Mohammed assured there will be no delay.
In APGA, primaries in Anambra ran into trouble. Aspirants and executives in Oyi and Awka North protested alleged irregularities and replacement of delegates from ward congresses, claiming popular candidates were dropped. The party is yet to state its position.
What happens next.
With INEC only monitoring primaries, parties are using their internal rules to review, adjust or overturn state results before submission. Winners may have to wait a few more days for certificates, flags and official confirmation before the 2027 race begins in earnest.
