A Peoples Democratic Party faction backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has released its timetable and schedule of activities for the 2026/2027 general elections and candidate nomination processes.
The announcement, made via the party’s official X account on Monday, was signed by the faction’s Organising Secretary, Interim National Working Committee, Theophilus Dakas.
The party also approved the cost of forms, pegging the presidential nomination at N100 million and the governorship at N40 million. Forms for the Senate N10 million, House of Representatives N7 million, and State Houses of Assembly N2 million.
As part of its inclusivity measures, the PDP announced that female aspirants will only pay for expression of interest forms, while youths and persons living with disabilities will receive a 50 per cent discount on nomination forms.
The schedule begins on Monday, May 4, 2026, when a notice of elections will be issued to state chapters.
The sale of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for all positions (State House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, Governorship, and Presidential) will run from Tuesday, May 5 to Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
Mandatory submission of party registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission by state chapters will be done on Thursday, May 7, 2026.
The screening of aspirants is scheduled to hold in phases.
Aspirants for the State House of Assembly will be screened on Friday, May 15, 2026, while those for the House of Representatives will undergo screening on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
The Senate screening is also fixed for Saturday, May 16, 2026. Governorship and presidential aspirants will be screened on Monday, May 18, 2026.
Screening appeals are expected to hold on Thursday, May 21, 2026.
Ward congresses and primaries will take place on various dates in late May 2026, including special ward congresses for presidential primaries.
A Special National Convention for the ratification of candidates has been scheduled for Saturday, May 30, 2026.
Submission of nomination forms to INEC will run from late June to mid-July 2026 through electronic submissions.
Campaign activities are expected to commence in August 2026 for presidential and National Assembly candidates, and in September 2026 for governorship and state assembly candidates.
The last day for campaigns is slated for early 2027.
The timetable was released hours after the faction ratified the appointment of a 13-member Caretaker Committee headed by Tanimu Turaki, SAN, as chairman.
The decision was taken at the Makinde-backed 103rd NEC meeting held on Monday in Abuja, following a motion moved by the Edo State PDP Chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, and seconded by the party’s ex-officio member, Clement Fagboyede.
Other members of the committee include Taofeek Arapaja, who was appointed National Secretary, as well as Daniel Ambrose, Hamza Abuya, Ihediwa, Isah Abubakar, Dakashan, Ini Ememobong, Aribisala Adewale Idowu, Baru Shaffi, and Okechukwu Obiechina.
The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike-backed Abdulrahman Mohammed-led National Working Committee of the PDP commenced the sale of its nomination forms on April 27, with the exercise expected to end on May 7.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed the Presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, February 6, 2027.
The Commission also disclosed that party primaries, including the resolution of related disputes, will take place between April 23, 2026, and May 30, 2026.
INEC further stated that campaigns for the Presidential and National Assembly elections will commence on August 19, 2026, while campaigns for Governorship and State Assembly elections are scheduled to begin on September 9, 2026.
