The All Progressives Congress (APC) has waived screening requirements for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential primary. APC spokesman Felix Morka said the decision was taken at the party's 188th National Working Committee (NWC) meeting on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. The NWC ruled that Tinubu is "duly screened" in line with the party's constitution for participation in the upcoming primary elections.
The decision was made 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 has received overwhelming support from key party stakeholders, including the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), National Assembly leadership, and other party organs. This backing was confirmed during the APC National Summit on May 22, 2025, and other major party events.
The NWC stated that requiring the incumbent president to appear before a screening committee would be redundant, noting he was already screened and cleared for the 2022 presidential primaries. James Faleke, member representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, has already purchased Tinubu's nomination form for the 2027 race. Tinubu won the 2023 presidential election, defeating Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi, who was then with the Labour Party (LP).
The APC's decision to waive screening for Tinubu while citing prior clearance creates a contradiction for other aspirants who must undergo the full process. Stakeholders who backed Tinubu at the 2025 summit are now effectively shielded from internal competition. This exception sets a precedent that could apply to only one candidate in future primaries. The path to the 2027 ticket appears predetermined for the incumbent.
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