A former presidential aspirant, Stanley Osifo, has declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), setting up a potential challenge to President Bola Tinubu.
Osifo made the announcement on Monday during a press conference in Abuja, where he revealed plans to purchase the party’s ₦100 million nomination and expression of interest forms ahead of the primaries.
His declaration comes amid a wave of endorsements for Tinubu within the party, with all 22 APC governors backing the President as the party’s sole candidate for the 2027 election.
Despite this, Osifo insisted that endorsements do not automatically determine the party’s flagbearer.
Addressing speculations about alleged backing from the President, Osifo dismissed the claims.
He said, “It is not strange to hear people say Tinubu is the one sponsoring me… I can categorically tell you… that I have never benefited one Kobo from him.
“If anybody has proof, let them show the world.”
The aspirant stressed that both party and electoral laws allow any qualified member to contest.
Osifo further stated, “There is no part of our party constitution that says that if anyone is endorsed, he automatically becomes the candidate of the party.
“INEC law also mandates an aspirant to vie for the ticket of any political office he qualifies for.”
Osifo maintained that he is not opposed to endorsements but would not be deterred by them.
“I am not against the governors or party leaders endorsing anybody… but we all have a constitutional right to pursue our ambitions,” he added.
The APC has fixed its presidential primary for May 15–16, with nomination forms pegged at ₦100m—₦30m for expression of interest and ₦70m for nomination.
