The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said its endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term in 2027 does not foreclose the chances of other members aspiring for the party’s presidential ticket.
National Organising Secretary of the party, Sulaiman Argungu, stated this in Abuja while addressing journalists on the outcome of the August 16 by-elections, where the APC won 13 of 16 contested seats across 12 states.
He said, “There is no dictation or dictatorship in democracy,” he said.
“The aspiration of the people will be the wish of the party. But that does not mean the door is closed. Anybody who wants to aspire to be the next president under the APC platform will not be denied that opportunity.
By extension, other organs have done similar things. Governments in most states, zones in most of the six political zones, have also adopted the same.
“But that does not mean that the door is closed. That does not mean that when the time comes, like we have always done, we’ll make our timetable known so that for anybody who wants to aspire to be the next President of this country, under the platform of All Progressives Congress, we’ll not deny him that opportunity to come and purchase form. We’ll allow him to come and pay. So that he can exercise his franchise as a member of the APC.
“We have never said it for any time, for any day that we have closed the door.
“We are only telling people that we appreciate what Mr. President is doing for the good people of this country.”
Argungu further defended the party’s internal structures, highlighting innovations introduced since 2022.
Read also: APC celebrates by-election wins, to meet Senators, Reps-elect
“Despite the change of leadership we have had, with series of national chairmen and acting national chairmen, we have always been on top of all the primary elections,” he explained.
“We work as a team. We invite members of the NWC and staff of the secretariat to join us, so that at any given time, anybody can tell you what is happening in the secretariat with regard to primary elections and organizational issues.”
The APC, he stressed, remains committed to consolidating its gains ahead of 2027.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described its victory in the August 16 legislative by-elections as a reaffirmation of Nigerians’ confidence in the ruling party, dismissing opposition claims that the polls were insignificant and manipulated.
Argungu said the victories recorded across 13 of the 16 contested constituencies underscored the strength of the party beyond its strongholds.
“You see, in politics, the opposition party and everybody is free to speak his mind,” Argungu said when asked about opposition criticism.
“It is not a new thing that the opposition, especially the new formation of new allies of another political party, has made so much noise.
“But like I’ve just said, we were able to win elections in states where APC is not governed. If we can win elections in these PDP states in particular, that shows Nigerians and the electorate in those constituencies and in those states are having faith and commitment to the APC.”
According to him, the outcome of the polls demonstrated that Nigerians were satisfied with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the APC’s manifesto.
Argungu also rejected allegations that the party relied on intimidation and security forces to influence the outcome.
“Thank you so much for this laughable question you’ve asked,” he said in response to claims that the APC used the military to secure victory.
“Particularly not the PDP that is dying. Because of the belief of Nigerians in the APC-led government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, they are drifting to the APC en masse, including a state governor, with all that it takes, leaving their party to join the APC.
“Nobody has ever been witch-hunted to come back to the APC. It is an appreciation of what the APC-led government is doing for the electorate.”
The party’s organising secretary maintained that the by-elections were free and fair, insisting that APC relied on mobilisation and not inducement.
“Rather than vote-buying, we don’t give money to anybody to go and buy a vote. We believe in open democracy. That was why, in Kano state, we were able to win in one of the two constituencies. Our new national chairman even went out himself during the campaign to visit some states and encourage our people. That is what gave us victory.”
The party also announced plans to convene an interactive session in Abuja with all elected Senators, Members of the House of Representatives, and State House of Assembly members who emerged from the by-election.
The session, according to Argungu, “will serve as a platform to exchange ideas, build trust, and chart a common course for legislative engagement at both national and state levels.”
He added, “it would also strengthen alignment between the elected representatives and the vision of the APC, as well as the expectations of Nigerians.”
On the forthcoming Ekiti governorship primary, Argungu confirmed that Governor Abiodun Oyebanji had already purchased his nomination form alongside three other aspirants.
He stressed that the process was open and transparent.
“As far as I know, about four people, including the incumbent governor, have come forward to pay their N50 million to obtain the nomination and expression of interest forms,” he said.
“Two of them are men, while two are women, who paid only N10 million because of the gender sensitivity of our party. Nobody has been denied anything. The time is still open for others who want to contest.”
He dismissed speculations that Governor Oyebanji was planning to defect.
“I can’t imagine somebody, even if he is a governor, spending N50 million to purchase forms and then, while about to submit, defect to another party. To go where? To the dead PDP or to the new ADC? This is not possible,” he declared.
