2027 election: Tinubu, APC bigwigs pick forms, GAC backs Hamzat

The 2027 political race in the ruling All Progressives Congress gained some momentum on Tuesday as President Bola Tinubu and other aspirants obtained their nomination forms.

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Also, Osifo Stanley from Edo State purchased N100m presidential nomination forms to challenge Tinubu for the APC ticket at the primaries.

This comes as Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, secured the backing of the Governance Advisory Council as the APC consensus candidate in the state.

The Founder of Tinubu Support Groups, lawmaker representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, James Faleke, who picked the N100 million expression of interest and nomination for the President, dismissed concerns over the emerging coalition against Tinubu, insisting they posed no threat to the APC.

According to the party’s 2027 schedule of activities, the sale of forms was scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 25, and end on Saturday, May 2, 2026. However, the process commenced three days later than planned. Party officials clarified that despite this brief delay, the overall deadline for form submission and aspirant eligibility remains unchanged, and all scheduled activities will still proceed as planned. This assurance is intended to help aspirants and stakeholders plan accordingly and reduce any uncertainty caused by the shift in timing.

Our reporter, who visited the designated venue, Abuja Continental Hotel, observed that the Ladi Kwali Hall, ballroom 2, was filled with APC aspirants.

Inside the hall, Senate and House of Representatives aspirants were seen collecting their forms from the zonal desk. The desk for governorship aspirants was positioned separately from the others.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had fixed the Presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, January 16, 2027, while Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for Saturday, February 6, 2027.

The commission also disclosed that party primaries, including the resolution of related disputes, will take place from April 23, 2026, to May 30, 2026.

INEC further announced that campaigns for the Presidential and National Assembly elections will commence on August 19, 2026, while those for Governorship and State Assembly elections will begin on September 9, 2026.

With the commencement of nomination form sales, political realignments across the six geopolitical zones and fresh succession calculations have been set in motion as the lawmaker representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, picked up the APC governorship nomination form for the 2027 Ogun State election.

Similarly, Senator Shehu Buba of Bauchi State and Senator Isah Jibrin (Wadada) of Nasarawa State picked up their governorship expression of interest and nomination forms as they seek to succeed Governors Bala Mohammed and Abdullahi Sule, respectively.

Speaking to journalists after obtaining President Tinubu’s re-election bid forms, Faleke maintained that the APC remains “strategically positioned and unaffected by opposition alignments,” stressing that the party’s internal cohesion and electoral machinery remain strong. He cited examples such as APC’s ongoing grassroots mobilisation campaigns, targeted voter outreach, and the strengthening of local party offices as concrete ways the party is securing its advantage heading into 2027. According to Faleke, these preparations are backed by intensive member training and the deployment of sophisticated data tools to enhance campaign effectiveness at both state and national levels.

“So, for all support groups who have made efforts, who have contributed money to purchase the form, I have done so on their behalf, on behalf of Nigerians. There is no one particular person who has done this. It is on behalf of all Nigerians.

“Just as we did before the 2023 election, I was also privileged, with some leaders, to buy the form. Here again, I am privileged to buy the form on behalf of all Nigerians, for our President, for our performing President.”

He added, “And by the grace of God, 2027 will be a reality. By the grace of God, he will contest, and he will win the election. At the same time, I am also privileged, with my friend here, Honourable Ajala, to pick the form for the incoming governor of Lagos, Dr Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat.

“And let me also say that those of us who contributed money to buy this form are more than 1,000 in Lagos. It is not just one person. None of us can come here and pick the form. Only representatives are sent. And I am also lucky to be one of those who have been sent to pick the form. At the same time, I picked my own form to return to the House of Reps. You can see the form with me.”

He added, “I am also waiting to get the receipt for our incumbent Senator Idiat Adebule from my West Senatorial District. This is just to let you know that everything is intact and God is in charge.”

He noted that the recent political movements and coalition talks are part of normal democratic competition and would not disrupt the ruling party’s preparation for 2027.

“On some coalition of political parties that met in Ibadan with a plan to bring a sole candidate to replace Mr President, we are not bothered.

“First, let me tell you that political parties can come together as part of democracy. When we do our work, they will do their work. We have our strategy, it will work, and we will win the election.”

Before Faleke obtained the forms, the Governance Advisory Council, the highest decision-making body of the Lagos State APC, had endorsed the Lagos State deputy governor as its consensus candidate for the 2027 governorship election.

The development was announced on Tuesday by the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on New Media, Jubril Gawat, in a post on X.

“FLASH: The Governance Advisory Council unanimously endorsed and adopted the Deputy Governor of Lagos State dr obafemi hamzat to be consensus candidate for the 2027 elections in Lagos State,” he wrote.

According to the post, the endorsement was made by GAC leader, Tajudeen Olusi, during a meeting held at Lagos House, Marina.

Gawat further stated that members of the council also purchased Hamzat’s nomination form.

The post read, “Alhaji Prince Tajudeen Oluyole Olusi spoke on behalf of the GAC, today at the Lagos House Marina. The GAC members also announced that they paid for his nomination form.

“The endorsement signals growing alignment within the Lagos chapter of the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 elections.”

In Ogun State, the lawmaker representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, obtained the N50m APC governorship nomination forms.

The forms were obtained on his behalf by his supporters, signalling his entry into the contest for the state’s top seat.

A notable challenger,  Abayomi Hunye, has also purchased the governorship nomination forms for the state governorship election. The forms were equally obtained on his behalf by his supporters.

Also, the immediate past Commissioner for Works and Housing in Borno State, Mustapha Gubio, has obtained the nomination form to contest the next governorship election in the state.

In a photo widely circulated on Tuesday by the governor’s spokesperson, Dauda Illiya, the aspirant, alongside the Senator representing Borno North Senatorial District, Tahir Monguno, formally presented the form to Governor Babagana Zulum in Maiduguri.

In a brief statement on his Facebook page, Dauda wrote, “Zulum Receives Borno APC Guber Aspirant, Engr. Mustapha Gubio.”

Gubio is the first aspirant to secure the APC governorship nomination form in the state.

Before his resignation, he served as Borno State Commissioner for Works and Housing, where he supervised infrastructure projects across the state.

On March 30, PUNCH Online reported that Governor Zulum approved the dissolution of the State Executive Council and directed all commissioners to hand over the affairs of their respective ministries to permanent secretaries.

The decision, according to a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Bukar Tijani, was intended to create an enabling environment for council members who may wish to contest elective positions in the forthcoming general elections.

In Nasarawa State, a group of young people purchased and collected the APC governorship nomination forms on behalf of Senator Aliyu Wadada ahead of the party primaries.

Recently, Governor Abdullahi Sule endorsed Senator Wadada and formally unveiled him as the APC consensus governorship candidate for the state.

Also on Tuesday, a former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, obtained the expression of interest and nomination forms to contest Nasarawa governorship election.

Adamu, who rejected Wadada as consensus candidate, insisted that he was fully prepared to win the primaries.

Speaking during a press briefing at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Nasarawa State Council Secretariat on Tuesday in Lafia, the state capital, the Director General of the Mohammed Abubakar Adamu 2027 Political Movement, Musa Hussein, noted that his principal was determined to go into the APC primaries because he believed strongly in his popularity.

“Just today, my principal, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, purchased the expression of interest and nomination forms for the governorship election.

“The former IGP is ready to go into a free, fair and credible primary election, and I can assure the entire residents of Nasarawa State that we will emerge victorious,” he said.

The senator representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, Shehu Buba, expressed confidence that the party would reclaim the state from the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2027 governorship elections.

Buba, who is also seeking the APC governorship ticket, spoke to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, shortly after obtaining his forms.

He said, “I thank God for allowing us to witness another cycle of elections. As you can see, I am physically present to obtain my nomination forms, which I have now done. I am also calling on Nigerians, or those aspiring to contest various positions being advertised by the party, that they should proceed accordingly. We were asked to come here, and we are here. I have obtained my form now.’’

“We stand a very good chance of taking over Bauchi from the ruling PDP. I am optimistic because Bauchi is an APC state, and you can attest to that. The PDP government has failed the people of Bauchi. Being the first person to obtain the form as an aspirant, be assured that if I get the ticket, we will send the PDP out.”

A businessman, Tonye Cole, purchased the APC governorship nomination forms to contest the 2027 Rivers State governorship election.

Beyond the governorship race,  an APC governorship aspirant in Abia, Mascot Uzor Kalu, became the first contestant to purchase the governorship nomination form on Tuesday.

Writing on his official Facebook handle, Kalu said, “Today, in a clear demonstration of my commitment to contest the 2027 governorship election in Abia State under the platform of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), I took the valiant step of purchasing the party’s nomination form, thereby becoming the first aspirant to do so and to contest the upcoming primaries.”

Kalu, the younger brother of the senator representing Abia North at the National Assembly, Senator Uzor Kalu, is expected to slug it out with the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Ben Kalu, at the party primaries.

Several other contestants have also collected forms to contest for Senate and House of Representatives seats across the various constituencies in the country.

Former Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Senator Shehu Sani obtained the APC forms for Ogun East and Kaduna Central Senatorial Districts, respectively.

Daniel’s plan to return to the Senate may collide with Governor Dapo Abiodun’s senatorial ambition as it defies a consensus arrangement by the APC in Ogun East, which had endorsed Abiodun as the party’s senatorial candidate for Ijebu/Remo.

In a post on his social media handles, Daniel said, “Today, I picked up my nomination and expression of interest forms as I seek to return to the Nigerian Senate, continuing my efforts to provide effective and responsive representation for the people of Ogun East Senatorial District under the platform of the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections.”

Daniel and Abiodun have been at loggerheads over who deserves the APC senatorial ticket. While the incumbent is seeking re-election, the governor is also interested in the seat.

Attempts had been made by the state government in the past to demolish Daniel’s properties over alleged contraventions.

In 2025, the state government issued notices of contravention, quit notices, and threats of demolition on Daniel’s Sagamu private residence and Conference Hotels Limited, alleging that the properties violated the state’s Urban and Regional Planning Law.

Similarly, Daniel was barred from constructing some roads in Sagamu. The Ogun State Government confirmed in September that it ordered the contractor handling the construction of Paddy Arikawe Oye Igbimo Road in Sagamu GRA, Minim and Tonye Nigeria Limited, to stop work for failing to obtain the requisite approvals and permits before commencing the project.

The matter reached a head on April 20 in Ijebu-Ode when Daniel raised the alarm in a viral video that he was denied access to the Ogun East stakeholders’ meeting at Adeola Odutola Hall.

The video showed the former governor addressing party supporters from his white campaign bus, branded with the OGD/PBAT Movement.

Daniel said, “We are here for our Ogun East APC caucus meeting, but surprisingly, we have been barred; we are told that we can’t enter, but let it be said that whatever they do here today is null and void.”

At the end of the meeting, party leaders reportedly endorsed Abiodun as their consensus candidate for the 2027 senatorial election.

With Daniel picking the nomination form, the party may be forced to adopt direct primaries to elect a candidate between him and the governor.

Under the direct mode of primary, registered party members vote to elect their preferred candidate, a process typically adopted when a consensus arrangement fails.

In a related development, the National Chairman of the ruling APC, Nentawe Yilwatda, has urged Nigerian youths to take a leading role in protecting and strengthening the country’s democracy, describing them as a key force for national stability and future development.

Speaking in the context of ongoing national reforms, Yilwatda called on young Nigerians, particularly those between the ages of 25 and 55, to take ownership of the democratic process and resist efforts by selfish political actors to undermine national progress.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, Yilwatda said the call became necessary in view of recent activities by certain political interests allegedly pushing narrow ambitions while spreading misinformation about the intentions and outcomes of the current administration’s reform agenda.

The APC chairman said, “Nigeria’s democracy is at a defining moment. The responsibility to defend and consolidate it rests heavily on our youth, who possess the energy, innovation, and patriotic zeal required to move the nation forward. We must not allow individuals who offer no credible alternatives to past challenges to mislead the people or truncate the gains already being recorded.”

He stated that the APC is genuinely a youth-driven political movement, with more than 50 per cent of its membership made up of young men and women.

“This demographic strength reflects the party’s deliberate commitment to inclusion, generational renewal, and the empowerment of emerging leaders as key drivers of Nigeria’s democratic future.

“By elevating a young leader to its highest administrative office, the APC has not only broken new ground but has also sent a powerful signal about its confidence in the capacity, vision, and dynamism of Nigeria’s younger generation. It reinforces the party’s belief that sustainable democracy and national development are best secured when young people are not merely participants, but central actors in shaping policy, driving reforms, and defending democratic values.”

He noted that the party’s strong youth presence makes the APC a forward-looking institution aligned with Nigeria’s population and better positioned to harness the energy and innovation of its people for national development.

Yilwatda warned that handing Nigeria’s future to individuals driven by personal ambition to become president at all costs would be a grave error that could reverse progress and return the country to instability.

The party leader argued that though President Tinubu’s reforms have brought tough adjustments, they are necessary for long-term economic growth and stability, with early signs already pointing to improved fiscal health and global competitiveness.

He also emphasised that Nigeria’s youthful population offers key advantages, including adaptability, tech awareness, and a progressive outlook needed to strengthen democracy and improve accountability.

“Investor confidence is gradually being restored. From renewed commitments in the oil and gas sector to growing interest in Nigeria’s digital economy and infrastructure space, the signs are clear that the country is on a path to recovery and growth,” he stated.