2027: APGA declares support for Tinubu, won’t field Presidential candidate

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has announced that it will not field a presidential candidate in the 2027 general election, revealing plans to adopt President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as its preferred candidate.

The party’s National Chairman, Barrister Sly Ezeokenwa, made this known on Thursday during a press briefing in Lagos while responding to questions about the possibility of endorsing a candidate from another political party.

Ezeokenwa said the decision to support Tinubu was based on the confidence the party has in the president and the goodwill he has shown towards APGA.

“We hope that during the national convention of the APC, if he secures the nomination of his party through direct primaries, I can bet you that the national convention of APGA will adopt him as our presidential candidate,” he said.

Explaining the rationale behind adopting a candidate from another party, Ezeokenwa noted that the move was not unprecedented in the party’s history.

He recalled that APGA adopted former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate during the 2011 and 2015 elections, stressing that the practice is lawful and consistent with the party’s political strategy.

“We decided to return to this policy for a reason. Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda resonates with us. He has shown us good faith and we share similar ideology. If he gets the nomination of his party, we will adopt him,” he added.

The APGA chairman also commented on the recent amendments to the Electoral Act, particularly the provision for direct primaries, which he said could help address the high cost of party primaries used to select candidates.

According to him, while the new provisions may help streamline internal party processes, there are concerns that certain aspects of the law could disadvantage smaller political parties.

Under the amended Electoral Act, political parties are required to submit their membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at least 21 days before their primaries, congresses or conventions. Only individuals whose names appear in the party register will be eligible to vote or contest in party primaries.

However, Ezeokenwa argued that the law should not interfere with the internal affairs of political parties.

“The constitution says you must belong to a political party, but you cannot determine for me who my members should be. It is none of your business,” he said.

He alleged that there was a deliberate attempt to weaken smaller political parties and limit their ability to present credible candidates during elections.

“There is a conscious attempt to emasculate smaller parties from fielding credible candidates. But I believe one of the positive sides of the new law is that it will entrench belief in political party ideology. Today, people see political parties as special purpose vehicles. We accept the direct primaries wholeheartedly and urge INEC to ensure credible elections,” he said.

Ezeokenwa also disclosed that APGA has begun a nationwide digital membership registration and revalidation exercise in compliance with the new legal requirements.

According to him, the exercise commenced on March 1 and is expected to last for one month as part of efforts to strengthen the party’s internal structure and membership database.

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