Stanley Osifo has decleared his intention to run for the All Progressives Congress presidential ticket in 2027, posing a challenge to President Bola Tinubu despite a wave of endorsements for the incumbent.
At a press conference in Abuja on Monday, Osifo disclosed plans to acquire the party’s nomination and expression of interest forms for ₦100 million ahead of the upcoming primaries.
His statement came in the midst of a growing consensus inside the ruling party, with all 22 APC governors endorsing Tinubu as the party’s sole candidate for the 2027 election, a move that has gained traction since May 2025.
In response to rumors about his political backing, Osifo denied any link between his desire and the president.
He said, “It is not strange to hear people say Tinubu is the one sponsoring me. Even when I wanted to run against Buhari in 2019, I was told the current president was bankrolling me.
“I can categorically tell you as I stand before you today that I have never benefited one Kobo from him. Thank God Asiwaju is still alive till today. If anybody has proof, let them show the world. So, I am not worried about such an insinuation.
“I am declaring interest and running for this ticket because of the strong conviction that I have. I have not been found wanting in any area or sanctioned for doing anything related to anti-party activities.”
“I am not against the governors or party leaders endorsing anybody. I am not out to fight anybody, but we all have a constitutional right to pursue our ambitions.
“Again, there is no part of our party constitution that says that if anyone is endorsed, he automatically becomes the candidate of the party. There is no such law, even in the Nigerian constitution, that highlights endorsement as a pathway to becoming a candidate.
“The party constitution clearly states that an aspirant can come out and run. INEC law also mandates an aspirant to vie for the ticket of any political office he qualifies for,” he stressed.
The APC’s presidential primary is scheduled for May 15-16. Nomination forms cost ₦100m, with ₦30m for expression of interest and ₦70m for nomination.
Osifo’s admission into the race signals a potential internal conflict within the ruling party, even as Tinubu’s supporters continue to advocate for a consensus nomination ahead of the primaries.
