Ahead of May 23 presidential convention, efforts by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to manage a consensus around President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid have come under pressure, following the emergence of a rival aspirant within the party.
An Edo-born politician, Osifo Stanley, on Monday publicly declared his intention to contest the APC presidential primary, becoming the first to openly challenge the incumbent despite widespread endorsements.
Stanley’s entry into the race comes weeks after the party’s March national convention, where governors, National Assembly members and other stakeholders adopted Tinubu as the sole candidate for the 2027 election. Several state chapters, including Bauchi, Borno, Kebbi, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ekiti and Lagos, had also backed the President, creating the impression of a closed contest.
However, speaking with journalists in Abuja, Stanley said his ambition was already in motion, noting that he had requested the party’s bank details to pay for the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms.
He grounded his decision in constitutional provisions, insisting that endorsements do not replace due process.
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“I believe strongly that we all have the right to enjoy our constitutionally-guaranteed rights to run,” he said, citing both the APC constitution and the Electoral Act 2026 (as amended).
According to him, no provision in either the party’s constitution or Nigerian law supports the automatic adoption of a candidate based solely on endorsements.
“There is no such law in our party’s Constitution. There is no such law in Nigeria that endorsement is a pathway to becoming the candidate,” he said, adding that both party rules and electoral laws recognise the right of aspirants to contest in a primary election.
On his agenda, Stanley identified the economy and security as his top priorities, describing them as the foundation for national development.
“Our plan is to see how Nigeria can get out of lingering economic tension, metamorphose and set our priorities,” he said.