A trader from Edo State, Osifo Stanley, has become the first person to formally challenge President Bola Tinubu for the APC presidential ticket, purchasing nomination forms worth N100 million.
Stanley picked up the forms at the party's national secretariat, signalling his intention to contest the 2025 presidential election on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress. The move marks the opening of what could become a crowded field within the party, as potential challengers weigh their options ahead of the election cycle.
The N100 million price tag for the presidential nomination form reflects the APC's high entry barrier for aspirants seeking the party's ticket. This sum has historically limited the field of candidates, effectively screening out those without substantial financial backing or party connections.
Stanley's emergence as a challenger comes at a time when there has been speculation about potential rivals within the APC who might test Tinubu's grip on the party. His decision to purchase the forms suggests he is serious about mounting a campaign, though his profile as a trader means he lacks the political structure and machinery typically required to win a presidential primary in Nigeria.
The APC has not yet announced the date for its primary election, but the party is expected to conduct the exercise before the general election scheduled for 2025. Tinubu's position as the sitting president and party leader gives him substantial advantages in any internal contest, including control over party machinery and the support of most sitting governors elected on the APC platform.
It remains unclear whether Stanley will be joined by other serious challengers from within the APC or whether his candidacy will remain largely symbolic. The party's structure and Tinubu's political dominance suggest that any challenge to his renomination would face significant headwinds.
