The ruling All Progressives Congress has significantly boosted its war chest, raking in over N4.45 billion from the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms, further consolidating its financial and political advantage over fragmented opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party made the sum from the sale of forms to two presidential aspirants, over 83 governorship aspirants from 28 states, as well as National and State Assembly aspirants.
The ruling party realised N200 million from President Bola Tinubu and Stanley Osifo, who purchased presidential nomination forms. Governorship forms were sold at N50 million each, Senate forms at N20 million, and House of Representatives forms at N10 million.
The development comes as the split within the Progressive Governors Forum deepened on Friday. The Chairman of the forum and Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, fought back against mounting opposition within the group, securing a vote of confidence from 18 APC governors out of 31 in a major show of support.
The forum had on Thursday removed Uzodinma, with plans to replace him with the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah. However, after a closed-door meeting in Abuja on Friday, 18 governors declared support for Uzodinma’s leadership.
Kebbi State Governor, Dr Nasir Idris, who spoke after the meeting, moved a vote of confidence on the chairman and his deputy, stating that the APC Progressive Governors Forum is very united and stronger now than any other time.
Meanwhile, the ruling party on Friday commenced the screening of governorship, Senate, and House of Representatives aspirants ahead of the party’s primary elections scheduled for May 15, May 18, and May 21 respectively.
However, the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa and the Centre for Policy Advocacy and Leadership Development have petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and the APC regarding the eligibility of a professorial aspirant who simultaneously holds positions as a university lecturer and a special adviser to a state governor.
