2027: Other Aspirants Free to Contest Against Tinubu – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has clarified that its 2027 presidential ticket remains open to all aspirants, despite the party’s widespread endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term.

APC’s National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Mohammad Argungu, made this known on Wednesday during an interactive session with journalists at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

He explained that while the party’s leadership including the National Working Committee, the Progressives Governors Forum led by Senator Hope Uzodinma, and the National Assembly leadership under Senator Godswill Akpabio, had endorsed Tinubu in recognition of his performance, the party would still allow free and fair primaries.

Argungu stressed,“We will definitely not close our doors (other Presidential aspirants). When the time comes, our timetable will be made known. Anybody who wants to aspire for the presidency under the APC will not be denied the opportunity to purchase the expression of interest and nomination forms to exercise their franchise.

We never said we had locked the door. We are only telling people that we appreciate what the President is doing for the people of the country and that he deserves a second term in office when we roundly endorsed him recently.”

He made the remarks in response to questions on whether the APC would adopt the model of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2014, when the party printed only one presidential form exclusively for then-President Goodluck Jonathan.

On the APC’s recent electoral successes, Argungu attributed the party’s victory in 13 out of 16 contested by-election seats to divine grace and the commitment of its members nationwide.

He said,“This is a remarkable achievement and a reaffirmation of the confidence Nigerians continue to repose in the APC.

These victories are not just statistics; they are a reaffirmation of the trust Nigerians continue to place in the APC. They demonstrate the strength, resilience, and growing acceptance of our party nationwide.

They reflect the belief of the Nigerian people in our capacity to deliver purposeful leadership and good governance.”

PUNCH