APC Declares 2027 Presidential Ticket Open to All Challengers Despite Tinubu Endorsement

In a move to show commitment to democratic principles, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has affirmed that its presidential ticket for the 2027 general elections remains open to all eligible party members, even as widespread endorsements pour in for incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid. National Organising Secretary Sulaiman Mohammad Argungu made the disclosure during an interactive session with journalists at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, emphasizing that no doors would be shut on potential aspirants seeking to contest the primaries.

Argungu highlighted the party’s recent endorsements of Tinubu by key organs, including the National Working Committee, the Progressive Governors’ Forum under Senator Hope Uzodinma, and the National Assembly leadership led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. These bodies praised Tinubu’s “outstanding performance” in office, crediting his administration with advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda amid economic and security challenges. However, the official stressed that such support does not equate to a lock on the nomination, distancing the APC from tactics like those employed by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2014, when it printed a single form for then-President Goodluck Jonathan.

“We will definitely not close our doors to other presidential aspirants,” Argungu declared, assuring that the party would adhere to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s timetable and the Electoral Act for a transparent process. He noted that multiple nomination forms would be available, allowing any interested member to purchase expression of interest and nomination forms without restriction. This approach, he added, reflects the APC’s ethos of inclusivity, where “democracy does not permit dictatorship,” and aspirants can exercise their franchise in an open primary.

The announcement comes amid the APC’s strong showing in recent by-elections, where it secured victories in 13 out of 16 contested seats across PDP strongholds, a feat Argungu attributed to “divine grace and the growing trust Nigerians place in the party.” As the 2027 race heats up, with the PDP zoning its ticket to the South, the APC’s openness could invite fresh competition, potentially shaping a more contested primary and testing Tinubu’s unchallenged status within the party.