More facts have emerged on the circumstances that led to the All Progressives Congress (APC) releasing its revised timetable and designated bank accounts for the purchase of nomination forms ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Party insiders revealed to Roving Reporters that the decision followed a standoff between the APC national leadership and some state governors over control of the nomination process.
According to a source familiar with the development, “they didn’t initially release the bank account details through which aspirants could pay for the forms,” a move said to be at the centre of the delay in unveiling the timetable.
The source added that “the plan was for governors to mount pressure on the national leadership so that account numbers would not be made public, making it impossible for aspirants to purchase forms directly.”
It was further gathered that the alleged arrangement was aimed at centralising the purchase of forms. “The intention was to gather all nomination forms in bulk. Governors were said to have contributed huge sums of money to buy all the forms so they could determine who gets them,” the source said.
Under the plan, each governor would reportedly “decide the number of forms to allocate for State Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate aspirants within their states,” effectively tightening their grip on the party’s ticket distribution.
However, the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda was said to have resisted the move.
“The national chairman defied them, insisting that it was not in line with what the President directed. He said it would not work,” the source disclosed.
This resistance, it was learnt, contributed to the delay in releasing the timetable, as consultations intensified at the highest levels of the party.
Another source noted that “the President was not comfortable with the arrangement and questioned why a few individuals should control access to nomination forms,” stressing that the directive was for a more open process.
The eventual decision to publish designated bank accounts for payments is believed to have broken the deadlock.
In its official notice issued Monday from its National Secretariat in Abuja, the APC confirmed the release of a revised timetable and payment details for aspirants.
The party stated, “all payments should be made in full directly into the designated bank account of the All Progressives Congress (APC),” listing accounts with Union Bank, UBA and Zenith Bank.
The APC also announced that “the sale of forms will run from April 25 to May 2, 2026, while submission of completed forms closes on May 4, 2026.”
Analysts say the move could widen participation and reduce the influence of political heavyweights in candidate selection, potentially paving the way for more competitive primaries.
A party source warned, however, that “this may lead to the collapse of consensus arrangements in some states and increase the likelihood of direct primaries.”
Primary elections are scheduled to begin on May 15 and end on May 23, 2026, covering all elective positions from State Houses of Assembly to the presidency.
Roving Reporters
