Efforts by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to maintain a consensus around President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid have encountered an early challenge, following the emergence of a new presidential aspirant ahead of the party’s May 23 convention.
Osifo Stanley, an Edo-born politician, has publicly declared his intention to contest the APC presidential primary, becoming the first known aspirant to openly challenge the incumbent within the party.
His declaration comes weeks after the APC’s national convention in March, where governors, members of the National Assembly, and other stakeholders endorsed Tinubu as the party’s sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election. Several state chapters, including those in Bauchi, Borno, Kebbi, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ekiti, and Lagos, had also backed the President, reinforcing what appeared to be a unified front.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Stanley revealed that he had already taken concrete steps toward his ambition, including requesting the party’s account details to pay the required nomination fees.
He grounded his decision in constitutional provisions, insisting that endorsements do not replace the formal primary process.
“I believe strongly that we all have the right to enjoy our constitutionally guaranteed rights to run,” he said.
He further argued that neither the APC constitution nor Nigeria’s electoral laws recognise endorsements as a substitute for party primaries.
“There is no part of our party’s constitution that says when people have endorsed you, or when anyone has been endorsed, you automatically become the candidate of the party.
“There is no such law in our party’s Constitution. There is no such law in Nigeria that endorsement is a pathway to becoming the candidate. The party Constitution recognises that you can come out to run. INEC law also recognises that you can come out to run,” he stated.
On his policy direction, Stanley identified economic reform and security as the core priorities of his proposed administration.
“Our plan is to see how Nigeria can get out of lingering economic tension, metamorphose and set our priorities,” he said, noting that sustainable development depends on stability in both sectors.
His entry into the race introduces a new dynamic into the APC’s internal process, raising questions about how the party will balance its preference for consensus with the constitutional right of members to contest.
While the party has largely projected unity behind Tinubu, Stanley’s move underscores the possibility of internal contestation as the presidential primary approaches.
What you should know
An APC aspirant, Osifo Stanley, has declared his intention to contest the party’s 2027 presidential primary, challenging the consensus built around President Bola Tinubu.
Despite widespread endorsements for Tinubu, Stanley argues that party and electoral laws guarantee the right to contest, making primaries essential.
His entry introduces early signs of internal competition within the APC, raising questions about how the party will manage consensus versus democratic participation ahead of its May 23 convention.
