Stanley Osifo, a former presidential aspirant, has declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), setting the stage for a potential internal battle against President Bola Tinubu.
Osifo made the declaration on Monday in Abuja, where he also confirmed plans to obtain the party’s nomination forms ahead of the primaries scheduled for 2027.
APC Endorsement Wave Meets Internal Opposition
His announcement comes amid widespread endorsements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by all 22 APC governors, who have publicly backed him as the party’s preferred candidate. Despite this, Osifo insisted that such endorsements do not invalidate the rights of other aspirants.
Osifo Dismisses Claims of Political Sponsorship
Addressing speculation about his political backing, Osifo rejected suggestions that his ambition was being supported by the President or his allies. “It is not strange to hear people say Tinubu is the one sponsoring me. Even when I wanted to run against Buhari in 2019, I was told the current president was bankrolling me. I can categorically tell you as I stand before you today that I have never benefited one Kobo from him… I am not worried about such an insinuation,” he said.
He maintained that his decision to contest was driven by personal conviction rather than political influence. “I am declaring interest and running for this ticket because of the strong conviction that I have,” he added.
Aspirant Cites Constitutional Rights to Contest
Osifo argued that party endorsements do not automatically translate into candidacy under APC rules or the Nigerian Constitution. “I am not against governors or party leaders endorsing anybody… but we all have a constitutional right to pursue our ambitions,” he said. “There is no provision in the party constitution or the Nigerian constitution that makes endorsement a pathway to becoming a candidate.” He further noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines allow qualified aspirants to contest party primaries freely.
APC Prepares for Heated Presidential Primary
The APC has scheduled its presidential primary for 15 to 16 May, with nomination forms pegged at ₦100 million. Osifo’s entry into the race signals a possible contest within the ruling party, even as efforts continue to build consensus around President Tinubu’s re-election bid.
