Party leaders have reportedly been unable to reach a final agreement among three leading contenders, Rotimi Amaechi, Atiku Abubakar, and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has postponed its presidential screening exercise from Monday to Wednesday following internal disagreements over the party’s preferred consensus candidate ahead of the vote.
Party leaders have reportedly been unable to reach a final agreement among three leading contenders, Rotimi Amaechi, Atiku Abubakar, and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
Sources within the party said the postponement was driven by ongoing consultations and negotiations among key stakeholders, as efforts continue to rally behind a consensus candidate seen as capable of strengthening the ADC’s chances and mounting a strong challenge against Bola Tinubu in the general election.
The postponement is expected to give party officials more time to resolve differences and prevent divisions within the party leadership and delegates ahead of the rescheduled Wednesday primary.
“The ADC presidential screening exercise has been shifted from Monday to Wednesday,” a party source said.
“The party has failed to agree on a consensus candidate between Amaechi, Atiku, Hayatudeen.”
Also, according to party sources, uncertainty still surrounds the presidential primary election, scheduled for Monday, May 25, citing financial challenges and disagreements over the push for a consensus candidate.
“Even their primaries date is now unsure; they don’t have money and Atiku not letting them have a consensus that doesn’t suit him,” one of the sources said.
On Saturday, the party announced the postponement of its screening exercise for presidential and governorship aspirants, shifting the exercise earlier scheduled for the weekend to today, Monday, May 18, 2026.
In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC also disclosed that the screening of some federal lawmaker aspirants from affected parts of Northern Nigeria would now be conducted in Abuja due to prevailing security concerns in the region.
The party said all affected aspirants would be contacted with updated schedules and other necessary details regarding the exercise.
“All affected aspirants will be duly contacted with the updated schedules and necessary details,” it said.
“We regret any inconvenience this adjustment may cause and appreciate the understanding and cooperation of all aspirants and stakeholders.”
Earlier, the party released the timetable for its primary elections ahead of the 2027 polls.
It also approved a structured fee regime for nomination forms across all elective positions.
The ADC said the sale of nomination forms would take place from May 5 to May 10, 2026, while the submission of completed forms was scheduled for May 11 to May 13.
“Screening of aspirants will take place from May 14 to May 15, 2026, followed by the publication of screening results on May 17, 2026,” a statement signed by Abdullahi read.
“Appeals will be heard between May 18 and May 19, 2026, with the final list of cleared aspirants to be released on May 20, 2026.”
Abdullahi said the primary elections would commence on May 21, with elections for state houses of assembly, house of representatives, and senate seats holding simultaneously at the ward level.
“The governorship primaries will take place on May 22, 2026, while the presidential Primary is scheduled for May 25, 2026,” he said.
“This will be followed by a meeting of the National Executive Committee on May 26, 2026, and the Special National Convention on May 27, 2026, where final ratifications will be made.
“The presidential nomination form is pegged at N100 million, governorship at N50 million, Senate at N20 million, House of Representatives at N10 million, and State House of Assembly at N3 million.”
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