The All Progressives Congress (APC) has clarified that its 2027 presidential ticket is not restricted to a single candidate, stressing that the process remains open to all qualified aspirants.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, APC National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, dismissed reports suggesting that the party planned to print only one presidential nomination form for President Bola Tinubu, thereby excluding other chieftains from contesting.
Argungu explained that although the National Working Committee (NWC), governors, and various state chapters have already endorsed President Tinubu as the preferred candidate, the party’s democratic principles ensure that the nomination process remains inclusive.
“It will be the wish of the party, and we, the NWC of the party, have already endorsed President Tinubu as the next presidential candidate of the party. And by extension, other organs have equally done the same thing,” he said.
“Governors in the states have done the same, too. It has also been replicated in all six geographical zones of the country. But it does not mean that the door is closed.
“We will definitely not close our doors. When the time comes, our timetable will be made known. Anybody who wants to be the president 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 further emphasized the party’s commitment to democracy, saying: “Democracy does not permit dictatorship. While the majority of our members have endorsed President Tinubu, any other aspirant who wishes to contest under the APC platform will still be allowed to do so.”
Argungu also assured that the APC would fully comply with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) timetable and the provisions of the Electoral Act to guarantee a transparent and credible process.
Highlighting APC’s recent electoral performance, he pointed out that victories recorded in states traditionally controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during by-elections demonstrate growing public confidence in the ruling party’s vision, manifesto, and President Tinubu’s administration.
What you should know
The APC has confirmed that while President Bola Tinubu has received widespread endorsement from party organs for a second term, the 2027 presidential ticket remains open to all aspirants.
The party insists its process will be democratic, inclusive, and guided by INEC’s timetable.
