Anxiety is mounting within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as aspirants for various elective positions complain of their inability to purchase nomination and expression of interest forms, despite assurances by party leadership. The development came to the fore on Monday when a presidential aspirant, Chief Osifo Stanley, declared in Abuja that he had been unable to obtain the party’s nomination form after making repeated efforts since last weekend.
According to him, attempts to reach party officials and secure the necessary payment details proved abortive. “I made calls between Saturday and yesterday to officials of the party. The account number required to pay for the form is yet to be made available to me as we speak,” he said.
Investigations revealed that Stanley’s experience may not be isolated. Multiple aspirants seeking tickets for governorship, National Assembly and state assembly positions are reportedly facing similar challenges, raising concerns over transparency in the process. A party source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, blamed the situation on alleged interference by members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, accusing them of attempting to hijack and control access to the forms in favour of preferred aspirants.
The source also linked the development to the open endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), suggesting that the move may have complicated the process for other presidential hopefuls. Despite the hurdles, Stanley insisted that no endorsement overrides constitutional provisions or party rules. “There is no part of our party constitution that says when people endorse the President, he automatically becomes the candidate or remains the only pathway. The constitution and INEC regulations empower me to run. I believe strongly that we all have the right to enjoy our constitutional rights,” he stated.
The 50-year-old aspirant said his ambition is driven by a desire to reposition Nigeria for sustainable growth, with a focus on key sectors including the economy, security, healthcare, water resources and regional integration. Tracing his political journey, the Edo born politician noted that he began his career in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 2018, later obtained a form under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), before joining the APC. He added that he contested in 2023 and actively supported President Tinubu’s victory. He dismissed claims of political sponsorship, maintaining that he has financed his political activities independently.
On governance, Stanley acknowledged efforts by the current administration but stressed the need for new approaches, particularly in the power sector. “Power is the engine room that drives the global economy. We have dams, solar and gas. With more research and the right policies, we can do much better,” he said. He also decried the monetisation of Nigeria’s electoral process, arguing that leadership should not be determined by financial muscle. “In other parts of the world, leaders emerge without excessive spending. We have seen examples in countries like the UK and the US. Nigeria deserves a system where competence, not money, determines leadership,” he added.
Stanley further invoked Nigeria’s founding leaders — Ahmadu Bello, Nnamdi Azikiwe and Obafemi Awolowo as symbols of the kind of visionary leadership the country needs. According to the APC’s timetable, the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms is scheduled to run from April 25 to May 2, 2026, with submission of completed forms closing on May 4. Screening of aspirants is slated for May 6 to May 9, while the publication of results will follow on May 11. Appeals are expected between May 12 and May 13. Primary elections are to commence on May 15 with the House of Representatives, followed by the Senate on May 18, State Houses of Assembly on May 20, governorship on May 21, and the presidential primary on May 23. Post-primary appeals will run between May 18 and May 25, depending on the category of election.
