The ruling All Progressives Congress has raised over N4.45 billion from the sale of nomination forms ahead of the 2027 elections, widening its financial edge as opposition parties splinter.
The party collected N200 million each from President Bola Tinubu and Stanley Osifo for presidential forms. Governorship aspirants from 28 states paid N50 million each, while Senate candidates paid N20 million and House of Representatives aspirants paid N10 million. In total, more than 83 governorship hopefuls, alongside candidates for the National and state assemblies, purchased forms.
The money bolsters the APC's campaign machinery at a time when the opposition remains fractured and weakened. The party began screening candidates yesterday for the governorship and legislative races, with primary elections scheduled for May 2026.
But cracks have appeared within the APC's own ranks. The Progressive Governors Forum removed its chairman, Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, on Thursday and began moves to replace him with Peter Mbah of Enugu State. The challenge came from a rival faction led by Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State.
Uzodinma struck back hard. In a closed-door meeting in Abuja yesterday, 18 of the party's 31 governors voted to keep him in place. Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris moved the vote of confidence, declaring that Uzodinma and his deputy, Uba Sani of Kaduna State, would remain in their positions.
Governors at the meeting included those from Ondo, Taraba, Sokoto, Ebonyi, Borno, Lagos, Kogi, Kano, Yobe, Kenue, and Benue. The governors of Jigawa and Nasarawa sent their deputies.
Sani told reporters the forum was united behind the party and President Tinubu. "All of us woke up with that very unfortunate story in all the media in Nigeria," he said. "But the truth is the APC Progressive Governors Forum is very united. We're stronger now than any other time."
Idris said the governors were committed to the party's primary elections and to backing Tinubu's re-election bid in 2027. "We have decided to work harder, look after our people, show performance and provide all the necessary social interventions that make Nigerians happy," he said.
The party will screen Senate candidates on May 18, 2026, and governorship candidates on May 21. House of Representatives primary elections are set for May 15.
