By: Sunday Ameh
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced that it will not be issuing an automatic presidential ticket to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the 2027 general election, saying the contest remains open to all qualified members of the party.
This was made known by the party’s National Organising Secretary, Suleiman Argungu, during a press briefing on Monday at the APC national secretariat in Abuja.
Argungu explained that while the party’s leadership, including the National Working Committee (NWC), state governors, and zonal organs, had earlier endorsed President Tinubu as the preferred candidate, such endorsement does not foreclose the constitutional right of other party members to contest.
“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,” Argungu 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,” he added.
Argungu clarified that the endorsement of the President was merely an expression of internal support, not a legal or procedural barrier to other aspirants.
“When the time comes, we will make our timetable known so that anybody who wishes to aspire for the office of President on the platform of the APC will not be denied the opportunity to purchase the nomination forms,” he stated.
The clarification comes amid growing speculation that the ruling party had already concluded plans to hand President Tinubu an automatic second-term ticket, following a series of endorsements by key party figures and governors.
However, Argungu’s statement now suggests that the 2027 APC presidential primary will be an open contest — allowing other aspirants within the party to challenge the incumbent if they so desire.
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