- Safiu Kehinde
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has adopted direct primaries for the selection of its presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 General Elections as an Edo businessman, Stanley Osifo, challenges President Bola Tinubu for the ticket.
Osifo had reportedly purchased the N100 million expression of interest and nomination forms for the presidential ticket, prompting the APC to adopt the direct primaries despite several endorsement of Tinubu as consensus candidate by stakeholders and leaders of the party.
The development was announced by the APC’s National Secretary, Ajibola Bashiru, during a press briefing on Thursday.
In his address, Bashiru disclosed that Osifo was given the form following his declaration of interest and payment.
His aspiration led to the adoption of the direct primaries in compliance with the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) electoral act.
“A gentleman from Edo state decided to collect form to contest for the presidential primary. We gave him the form and of course, if he has the support of the members of the party, he is also free to contests for primary.
“By the rule of the electoral act, our party has adopted direct primary for the purpose of emergence of our presidential candidate.
“All party members from the nook and cranny of Nigeria, from Yobe to Zamfara, from Zamfara to Lagos, Lagos to Kanto, and Kano to Katsina, will come out to vote for who will be the presidential flagbearer of our political party.” Bashiru said.
While little is known about the background of Osifo, the Edo businessman had however built reputation in the political space with his presidential ambition.
According to reports, Osifo’s political ambition dates back to 2018–2019, when he emerged as one of the youngest presidential aspirants under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
At the time, he positioned himself as a youth-driven alternative candidate promising wealth creation and poverty reduction.