Today, no fewer than 2,620 aspirants, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, governors, senators and members of the House of Representatives, are expected to know whether they have been cleared to contest the 2027 elections on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Osifo Stanley, Tinubu’s only opponent for the presidential ticket and several other serving and former political office holders are also waiting for the outcome.
The APC will today release names of cleared aspirants as part of preparations to meet the timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
We learnt that the ruling party screened about 2,980 aspirants for various elective positions including one presidential slot, 28 governorships, 109 Senate, 360 House of Representatives and 991 state assembly positions.
The APC screening exercise reportedly took place between May 8 and May 12.
Sources said the screening panel had given President Tinubu a waiver.
Among those screened were serving governors, former governors, lawmakers, ministers and technocrats who bought and submitted nomination forms.
Among the prominent personalities whose fate will be decided by today’s publication is Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, who is seeking a senatorial seat.
Uzodimma is governor of Imo State, chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and chairman of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors leading Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
The APC hierarchy was under pressure to prevail on him to jettison the senatorial ambition to avoid a constitutional and political crisis, sources within the party told Vanguard.
Party sources said the fear is that Uzodimma can serve as both governor and senator-elect at the same time as his tenure as governor will not end until January 2028.
Today, the fate of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, who is in a political battle with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, will be decided.
It was gathered that Wike held a meeting with the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yiltwatda, Tuesday.
A political battle has ensued between the incumbent governor, Dapo Abiodun, and the former governor and current senator representing Ogun East, Gbenga Daniel, over the Ogun senatorial seat.
Similarly, Gombe State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya is battling with his predecessor, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo for a Senate ticket.
Among those screened is the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu who is contesting the APC governorship ticket in Abia State.
Kalu was recently queried for alleged attendance at the Nigerian Law School while participating in the National Youth Service Corps scheme.
The development comes amid brewing tension within the APC as many aspirants continue to insist on direct primaries instead of consensus arrangements.
Some aspirants reportedly threatened to resist any candidate imposition.
Reacting to the rising tension, APC National Chairman warned aspirants against violence and anti-party activities .
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, Yiltwatda said the party would not tolerate any act that would disrupt the primary elections.
“The party leadership will not condone any act that is capable of disrupting the smooth conduct of the primaries,” he said.
He warned that aspirants or supporters found sponsoring violence, unrest or anti-party activities would be subjected to discipline including suspension from the party.43
Hon. Dr. Philip “Okanga” Agbese, a transformative leader in Enone. Discover his achievements, community projects, and vision for 2027
