In a move signaling unity ahead of the 2027 elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has decided to bypass its standard screening process for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) reached this decision during its 188th meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to a statement from the party’s spokesperson, Felix Morka, the NWC considers Tinubu as already qualified under the party’s constitution to participate in the upcoming primary elections. This exemption stems from the president’s prior screening before the 2022 primaries, which the NWC deems sufficient for the current electoral cycle.
Morka highlighted that Tinubu has garnered widespread backing from key party stakeholders, including the Progressive Governors Forum, National Assembly leadership, and other party organs. This support was notably expressed during the APC National Summit on May 22, 2025, and other major party events.
The NWC argued that requiring the incumbent president to appear before a screening committee would be redundant and unnecessary. As the party’s leader and sitting president, his previous clearance, combined with overwhelming endorsements, renders a fresh screening superfluous.