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APC insists its 2027 ticket is open despite Tinubu’s endorsement
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Opposition parties accuse ruling party of deception and bias
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Critics warn move undermines democracy and fuels godfatherism
The ruling All Progressives Congress has come under fire from opposition parties after declaring that its 2027 presidential ticket remains open to members despite the public endorsement of President Bola Tinubu by its leadership organs.
APC National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, told journalists in Abuja that the party would not deny any aspirant the opportunity to purchase forms and participate in the primaries. He stressed that the endorsement of Tinubu was an appreciation of his performance, not a closure of the field to other contestants.
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But the Coalition of United Political Parties dismissed the claim as a carefully crafted illusion designed to give the impression of openness where the outcome has already been predetermined.
CUPP National Secretary, Peter Ameh, warned that the move risked luring unsuspecting aspirants into expending resources on a contest tilted heavily in favour of the incumbent.
The Social Democratic Party also accused the APC of entrenching godfatherism and stifling internal democracy. Its National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, said the ruling party’s tactics had become notorious, contrasting them with what he described as the SDP’s history of open and competitive primaries.
From the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, National Executive Committee member Timothy Osadolor described the ruling party’s position as political theatre, arguing that the endorsement of Tinubu already seals the fate of would-be challengers.
He accused the APC of trivialising democratic processes while mocking aspirants with false assurances of fairness.
