As political realignments and internal crises continue to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, the ruling All Progressives Congress has significantly strengthened its political and financial position after generating more than N4.45 billion from the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms to aspirants seeking various elective offices.
The massive revenue haul further underscores the APC’s growing dominance as rival opposition parties battle defections, internal wrangling, leadership disputes, and fragmentation across the country.
Party sources disclosed that the APC realized the funds through the sale of forms to presidential, governorship, National Assembly, and state assembly aspirants participating in the party’s ongoing preparations for the 2027 elections.
The party reportedly generated about N200 million from the sale of presidential nomination forms alone after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and another aspirant, Stanley Osifo, purchased forms to contest for the APC presidential ticket.
Under the party’s approved fee structure, governorship nomination forms were sold for N50 million each, Senate forms for N20 million, while aspirants seeking seats in the House of Representatives paid N10 million.
More than 83 governorship aspirants from 28 states reportedly purchased forms, while hundreds of aspirants also obtained forms for Senate, House of Representatives, and state legislative positions.
Political observers say the development highlights the APC’s superior fundraising capacity at a time when opposition parties are increasingly divided and financially weakened.
The ruling party’s financial advantage comes amid widening cracks within the opposition coalition landscape, with several parties struggling to maintain cohesion ahead of the elections.
Meanwhile, internal tensions also surfaced within the APC’s own Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), although the crisis appeared to have been temporarily contained after a group of governors rallied behind the forum’s chairman and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma.
Reports had emerged earlier that some governors within the forum moved to remove Uzodimma as chairman, with discussions allegedly underway to replace him with Peter Mbah.
Sources indicated that another bloc within the governors’ forum was reportedly led by Dapo Abiodun and Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.
However, following a closed-door meeting held in Abuja on Friday, 18 APC governors publicly endorsed Uzodimma’s leadership and passed a vote of confidence on him and his deputy, Uba Sani.
Speaking after the meeting, Nasir Idris dismissed reports of division within the forum.
“We don’t have any problem to justify what they have said. So, I want to seek this opportunity to move a vote of confidence on our chairman and his deputy,” Idris said.
Governor Uba Sani also rejected claims of crisis within the APC governors’ camp, insisting that the forum remained united and firmly behind President Tinubu.
“What I can say here is that all of us woke up with that very unfortunate story that we have virtually in all the media in Nigeria. But the truth of the matter is that the APC Progressive Governors Forum is very united,” he said.
“We’re stronger now than any other time. And of course, we are all supporting our President for what he has been doing.”
He added that the APC governors remained committed to preserving unity within the party ahead of the elections.
“We also want to assure everyone that APC is united, governors are united, the forum is united, and there is no problem at all,” Sani stated.
Governors present at the meeting included those from Ondo, Kaduna, Taraba, Sokoto, Ebonyi, Borno, Lagos, Kogi, Kano, Yobe, Kebbi, and Benue States, while Jigawa and Nasarawa States were represented by their deputies.
While moving the vote of confidence, Governor Idris reaffirmed that Uzodimma and Uba Sani remained chairman and deputy chairman of the forum respectively.
Uzodimma, in his remarks, said APC governors were fully committed to ensuring President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
“Governors of Progressive Congress are all united and resolved to support Mr. President and to ensure that he comes out successfully during the upcoming elections by January 2027,” Uzodimma said.
He added that APC governors would intensify governance and social intervention programmes to strengthen public support for the party.
“So we have decided to work harder, look after our people, show performance and provide all the necessary social interventions that make Nigerians happy,” he added.
Meanwhile, the APC on Friday commenced the screening of governorship, Senate, and House of Representatives aspirants ahead of the party primaries.
The party had earlier scheduled the House of Representatives primary for May 15, Senate primary for May 18, and governorship primary for May 21, 2026.
To oversee the screening exercise, the APC constituted separate committees for incumbent governors seeking re-election and other governorship aspirants.
The committee screening incumbent governors is chaired by the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, while the party’s National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, serves as secretary.
The screening of incumbent governors was scheduled to hold at the Plateau Governors Lodge in Abuja.
Another committee chaired by Dr. Ben Nwoye was set up to screen other governorship aspirants, with businessman Emeka Offor serving as secretary.
Amid the APC’s preparations, some aspirants have already come under scrutiny over allegations relating to eligibility, conflict of interest, and performance in office.
The Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) and the Centre for Policy Advocacy and Leadership Development (CPALD) submitted petitions to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the APC challenging the eligibility of Princewill Igbagara to contest for the Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency seat in Bayelsa State.
According to PAACA Executive Director, Ezenwa Nwagwu, Igbagara allegedly held dual public positions simultaneously as a professor at the Federal University Otuoke and Special Adviser to the Bayelsa State Governor on Science and Technology.
Nwagwu argued that the situation raised legal and ethical concerns relating to conflict of interest, abuse of office, and double remuneration from public funds.
He called on the ICPC to investigate whether any constitutional, electoral, or public service rules had been violated.
Similarly, a party chieftain from Ekiti State, Hon. Afuye Idowu, petitioned the APC National Working Committee demanding the disqualification of Cyril Fasuyi from contesting again for the Senate.
Idowu accused the senator of poor performance and failing to effectively represent the people of Ekiti North Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
“He is not reported to have moved any serious motion or made any significant contributions to debates on the floor of the Senate,” Idowu alleged.
He warned that if the party leadership failed to act, party members would challenge Fasuyi during the primary election process.
As the 2027 elections draw closer, the APC appears determined to leverage its financial strength, incumbency advantage, and internal structures to consolidate power, even as opposition parties continue to grapple with instability and uncertainty.
