The All Progressives Congress (APC) has waived screening requirements for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the 2027 presidential primary. The decision was made during the 188th meeting of the party's National Working Committee (NWC) on Wednesday in Abuja. According to a statement by APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka, the waiver was granted under Article 13.4 (xiii) and (xiv) of the APC Constitution, which allows the NWC to organise primaries and grant waivers in special circumstances. The party said Tinubu's status as incumbent president and leader of the ruling party makes fresh screening unnecessary, noting he was already screened ahead of the 2022 primaries. "The National Working Committee resolved to waive, and has waived, screening requirements for His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and deemed him as duly screened in accordance with the Constitution of the Party," the statement said. The APC cited overwhelming support for Tinubu from key party structures, including the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), National Assembly leadership, and other party organs. The party also referenced endorsements received during the APC National Summit on May 22, 2025, and other statutory meetings.
The APC has waived screening for Tinubu while requiring other aspirants to face scrutiny, creating a two-tier standard within the party. This exemption undermines the fairness of the primary process for other members seeking nomination. Tinubu's automatic qualification bypasses the same procedures ordinary aspirants must follow. The move signals that incumbency, not process, determines eligibility in the ruling party.
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