Joseph Pairin Kitingan Barisan Nasional, (PBS) The 1986 Sabah state election was held between Sunday, 4 May and Monday, 5 May 1986.

The snap election was called by chief minister Pairin Kitingan in response to civil disturbances and political defections following the results of the 1985 state election.

USNO had a net loss of 4 seats (losing 4 to PBS and exchanging 1 with Berjaya).

Pairin was sworn in as Chief Minister on the next day after the election results, together with the state EXCO members.

[5] Pairin also announces PBS have applied to join Barisan Nasional (BN) as component party on the same day.