The All Progressives Congress has said that while President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been widely endorsed for a second term, other members interested in the presidency will still be allowed to contest for the party’s ticket.
This clarification came from the APC National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Mohammad Argungu, during an interactive session with journalists at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday, August 27.
Argungu explained that Tinubu’s endorsement by key party structures, including the National Working Committee, the Progressives Governors Forum led by Senator Hope Uzodinma, and the National Assembly leadership under Senator Godswill Akpabio, was an acknowledgment of his “outstanding performance” in office.
He stressed, however, that the party would uphold internal democracy by keeping the primaries open to all qualified members.
According to him, “We will definitely not close our doors (other Presidential aspirants). When the time comes, our timetable will be made known.
“Anybody who wants to aspire for the presidency under the APC will not be denied the opportunity to purchase the expression of interest and nomination forms to exercise their franchise.
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“We never said we had locked the door. We are only telling people that we appreciate what the President is doing for the people of the country and that he deserves a second term in office when we roundly endorsed him recently.”
The APC official made the remarks while reacting to comparisons with the 2014 strategy of the Peoples Democratic Party, which printed a single nomination form for then-President Goodluck Jonathan to run as its sole candidate.
On the outcome of the recent by-elections, Argungu attributed the APC’s success in 13 out of 16 contested seats to divine grace and the unity of party members nationwide.
“This is a remarkable achievement and a reaffirmation of the confidence Nigerians continue to repose in the APC,” he said.
“These victories are not just statistics; they are a reaffirmation of the trust Nigerians continue to place in the APC. They demonstrate the strength, resilience, and growing acceptance of our party nationwide.
“They reflect the belief of the Nigerian people in our capacity to deliver purposeful leadership and good governance.”