Samuel Omang
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may have secured sweeping endorsements from top party organs, but the ruling party will still throw open its 2027 presidential ticket to other aspirants.
APC’s National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Mohammad Argungu, stated this on Wednesday during an interactive session with journalists at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
According to him, the endorsements from the National Working Committee, the Progressives Governors Forum led by Senator Hope Uzodinma, and the National Assembly leadership under Senate President Godswill Akpabio were simply acknowledgments of Tinubu’s achievements in office — not a signal of sole candidacy.
“We will definitely not close our doors. 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,” Argungu said.
He clarified that the party’s position differs sharply from that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2014, when only one presidential nomination form was printed exclusively for then-President Goodluck Jonathan.
Argungu also boasted of the APC’s strength, pointing to its recent victories in 13 out of 16 by-elections nationwide. He said the wins were proof that Nigerians still trust the APC to deliver on governance.
“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,” he said.
The clarification comes as the battle lines for 2027 begin to form, with analysts warning that while the APC promises an open field, Tinubu’s incumbency could tilt the odds heavily in his favor — leaving rivals with an uphill task.