The 2027 political season within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) gained fresh momentum on Tuesday as President Bola Tinubu and several aspirants formally joined the race by obtaining nomination forms.
The development also saw Osifo Stanley from Edo State purchasing the N100 million presidential nomination form to challenge President Tinubu at the party primaries, adding early tension to the presidential contest.
In Lagos, political calculations further intensified after the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) reportedly endorsed Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat as the consensus governorship candidate for 2027, strengthening his position within the state structure.
Lawmaker representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, James Faleke, who purchased the forms on behalf of President Tinubu, dismissed concerns about emerging opposition coalitions, insisting the APC remains united and strategically positioned ahead of the elections.
Faleke explained that the President’s nomination forms were funded through contributions from supporters nationwide, describing the move as a collective endorsement of Tinubu’s leadership.
He also confirmed that similar arrangements were made for Lagos Deputy Governor Hamzat, adding that he personally collected forms for his own return to the House of Representatives as well as Senator Idiat Adebule.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the 2027 general elections will hold in phases, with presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly elections will follow on February 6, 2027.
Party primaries are expected to run between April and May 2026, with official campaigns set to begin in August 2026 for presidential candidates.
Across the country, the opening of nomination sales has triggered widespread political realignments. In Ogun State, Senator Solomon Adeola (Yayi) picked up the governorship form, signaling his ambition to succeed Governor Dapo Abiodun, while other aspirants such as Abayomi Hunye and Mustapha Gubio also joined the race in their respective states.
In Nasarawa, political competition is already shaping up between Senator Aliyu Wadada, former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu, and other aspirants seeking the APC ticket, despite existing attempts at consensus-building.
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In Rivers, Abia, Bauchi, Borno, and other states, several politicians have also obtained forms, reflecting the scale of internal competition within the party.
Faleke maintained that the APC remains confident of victory in 2027, describing coalition talks by opposition figures as “normal democratic activity” that would not affect the ruling party’s strength or electoral machinery.
Meanwhile, internal party leadership, including APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda, urged young Nigerians to actively participate in politics, stressing that the future of Nigeria’s democracy depends on youth engagement and stability.
As nomination activities continue nationwide, political observers say the APC’s early mobilisation signals what could become one of the most competitive internal primaries in recent years, with major figures already positioning themselves for influence ahead of 2027.
