A former presidential hopeful, Stanley Osifo, has declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), setting up a potential face-off with President Bola Tinubu despite growing calls within the party to back the incumbent.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, Osifo said he would purchase the party’s ₦100 million nomination and expression of interest forms ahead of the primaries.
His announcement comes at a time when momentum within the APC appears firmly behind Tinubu, with all 22 party governors endorsing the president as the sole candidate for the 2027 election a position that has been building since mid-2025.
Osifo, however, dismissed suggestions that his ambition is being quietly backed by the president.
“It’s not new for people to say Tinubu is sponsoring me,” he said.
“Even when I ran against Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, similar claims were made. But I’ve never received a kobo from him. If anyone has proof, they should present it.”
He insisted his decision to run is driven by personal conviction and his record within the party.
“I’m not stepping forward to fight anyone,” he added. “But every qualified member has the right to contest. Endorsements don’t replace the rules.”
Osifo argued that neither the APC constitution nor Nigeria’s electoral laws recognise endorsements as a shortcut to securing the party’s ticket, maintaining that the process must remain open.
The APC has scheduled its presidential primaries for May 15–16, with forms priced at ₦30 million for expression of interest and ₦70 million for nomination.
While Tinubu’s loyalists continue to push for a consensus candidacy, Osifo’s entry signals that the race may not be as uncontested as party leaders hope.
