No Screening Needed: APC Clears Tinubu For 2027 Primary
Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, has formally waived the mandatory screening exercise for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential primaries, declaring him automatically cleared under the authority of its National Working Committee.
The decision was reached at the NWC’s 188th meeting, held on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja. It was announced through a statement signed by the APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka.
According to the statement, the NWC acted within the powers granted under Article 13.4 (xiii) and (xiv) of the party’s constitution, which empowers the committee to organise and supervise primaries and, in special circumstances, grant waivers in the party’s best interest.
“The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress, at its 188th meeting held today, May 6, 2026, resolved to waive, and has waived, screening requirements for His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and deemed him duly screened in accordance with the Constitution of the party for the purpose of participation in the upcoming primary elections,” the statement read.
The NWC further noted that Tinubu had received endorsements from major party organs, including the Progressive Governors Forum, the leadership and members of the National Assembly, and other key stakeholders at the APC National Summit held on May 22, 2025.
The committee also argued that subjecting a sitting president who was already screened ahead of the 2022 primaries to another physical screening would be “redundant and unnecessary.”
The APC had commenced the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms on April 28. The sale window closed at midnight on May 6, the same day the waiver was announced. Screening of other aspirants is expected to begin on May 8.
Forms for the President were purchased on April 28 by James Faleke, a House of Representatives member representing Ikeja Federal Constituency and a known funder of Tinubu Support Groups. The expression of interest and nomination forms are valued at N100 million.
The timeline for the primaries aligns with the schedule set by the Independent National Electoral Commission, which has fixed the Presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, January 16, 2027, and governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections for Saturday, February 6, 2027.
INEC has also stated that party primaries and the resolution of related disputes must be concluded between April 23 and May 30, 2026. Campaigns for the Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled to begin on August 19, 2026, while campaigns for governorship and state assembly elections will commence on September 9, 2026.