APC clarifies Tinubu’s 2027 endorsement, says ticket still open

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has explained that its recent endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term in 2027 does not foreclose the chances of other members aspiring for the party’s presidential ticket.

Speaking during an interactive session with journalists on Wednesday at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, the party’s National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, said the endorsement was primarily a recognition of President Tinubu’s performance in office so far.

He stressed, however, that the gesture should not be mistaken for the closure of internal democratic processes within the ruling party.

According to him, while the National Working Committee (NWC), the Progressives Governors Forum led by Governor Hope Uzodinma, and the National Assembly leadership under Senate President Godswill Akpabio have all thrown their weight behind Tinubu, the party remains open for others who may wish to test their popularity at the primaries.

He, however, said the APC will not shut out other aspirants from the presidential primary.

“We will definitely not close our doors (other presidential aspirants). When the time comes, our timetable will be made known,” Argungu said.

“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.

“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.”

The APC national organising secretary said the party is different from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), “printed just one form for Goodluck Jonathan as the sole presidential aspirant in 2014”.

On the party’s performance in the recent by-elections, Argungu said winning 13 out of 16 contested seats was evidence of the confidence Nigerians repose in the APC.