The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) has confirmed that the party will use a direct primary system to select its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections. Under the new arrangement, registered APC members nationwide will cast their votes directly for the aspirant of their choice.
The move sets the stage for a contest between incumbent President Bola Tinubu, who is seeking a second term, and Edo State businessman Osifo Stanley, who purchased the party’s ₦100 million presidential nomination form. Both candidates have now submitted the required paperwork to the APC’s National Secretariat in Abuja.
President Tinubu’s Expression of Interest and Nomination forms were delivered on Thursday by Vice President Kashim Shettima. Earlier in the week, House of Representatives member James Faleke collected the documents on the president’s behalf. Osifo Stanley, a recognized party chieftain, has also confirmed his intention to vie for the APC ticket, indicating a potential intra‑party challenge to the sitting president.
The adoption of the direct primary follows internal debates within the APC over the most transparent and inclusive method for candidate selection. The NWC’s decision aligns the party with practices in other major democracies, where rank‑and‑file members vote directly rather than through delegate conventions.
Stakeholders anticipate that the primary will be conducted ahead of the constitutional deadline for party nominations, allowing sufficient time for campaigning and dispute resolution. The APC’s choice of a direct primary could influence the political dynamics ahead of the 2027 elections, as the party seeks to consolidate support and present a unified front.
The forthcoming primary will be closely watched by observers and rival parties, given its implications for the incumbent administration’s agenda and the broader electoral landscape in Nigeria.
