By Wealth Oghenemaro
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not be handed an automatic ticket for the 2027 presidential election despite the wave of endorsements across the party.
National Organising Secretary of the APC, Sulaiman Mohammad Argungu, made this known on Wednesday during an interactive session with journalists at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
Argungu explained that while the National Working Committee, the Progressives Governors Forum led by Senator Hope Uzodinma, and the leadership of the National Assembly under Senator Godswill Akpabio had endorsed President Tinubu for a second term, the party remains committed to democratic principles.
He stressed that every eligible member of the party interested in the presidency will still be free to contest for the ticket in a transparent primary election.
“We will definitely not close our doors to 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,” he said.
Argungu emphasized that the endorsement of President Tinubu should not be mistaken for a declaration of automatic candidacy, noting that it was simply an expression of appreciation for his leadership and performance so far.
According to him, the APC will not repeat what happened in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2014, when former President Goodluck Jonathan was presented as the sole aspirant after only one form was printed for him.
On the party’s recent electoral performance, Argungu attributed APC’s victory in 13 out of 16 contested seats during the last by-elections to the grace of God and the hard work of party leaders, members, and supporters nationwide.
“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 added.
