The All Progressives Congress (APC) has reaffirmed that its 2027 presidential ticket remains open to all qualified aspirants, despite the strong endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term by key party organs.
This position was restated by the APC National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Mohammad Argungu, during a media session at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday.
Argungu explained that the endorsement of Tinubu by the National Working Committee (NWC), the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) under Senator Hope Uzodinma, and the National Assembly (NASS) leadership led by Senator Godswill Akpabio was a recognition of Tinubu’s performance in office. However, he clarified that the process of selecting the party’s candidate will not be restricted.
He maintained, “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.”
The party’s position, according to Argungu, aligns with its principles of openness and fairness. “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 added.
His comments followed concerns that the APC could replicate the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) model of 2014, when former President Goodluck Jonathan was presented as the sole aspirant. Argungu insisted that such an approach contradicts the APC’s democratic spirit.
Highlighting the party’s recent by-election performance, Argungu described the victory in 13 out of 16 contested seats as a testament to the confidence Nigerians have in the APC.
“These victories are not just statistics; they are a reaffirmation of the trust Nigerians continue to place in the APC. They reflect the belief of the Nigerian people in our capacity to deliver purposeful leadership and good governance,” he said.
Frontpagenews.ng reports that the APC leadership is navigating the delicate balance between loyalty to President Tinubu and ensuring inclusiveness as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.
