No fewer than 2,620 aspirants, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, governors, senators and members of the House of Representatives, are expected to know today whether they have been cleared to contest the 2027 elections on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Also awaiting the outcome are Tinubu’s lone challenger for the presidential ticket, Osifo Stanley, alongside several serving and former political office holders.
As part of preparations to meet the timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the APC is expected to publish the names of cleared aspirants today.
It was gathered that the ruling party screened about 2,980 aspirants for various elective positions, including one presidential slot, 28 governorship positions, 109 Senate seats, 360 House of Representatives seats and 991 state assembly positions.
The APC screening exercise reportedly held between May 8 and May 12.
Sources disclosed that President Tinubu was granted a waiver by the screening panel.
Among those screened were serving governors, former governors, lawmakers, ministers and technocrats who purchased and submitted nomination forms.
Among prominent figures whose fate will be determined by today’s publication is Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, who is seeking a senatorial seat.
Uzodimma currently serves as governor of Imo State, chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and chairman of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors leading Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
According to Vanguard, sources within the party said the APC hierarchy was under pressure to persuade him to drop the senatorial ambition to avoid a constitutional and political crisis.
The concern, according to party insiders, is that Uzodimma could simultaneously hold the positions of governor and senator-elect because his governorship tenure would not expire until January 2028.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State who is in a political battle with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, will have his fate determined today.
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Wike had on Tuesday met with the National Chairman of the APC, Nentawe Yiltwatda.
In Ogun State, former governor and serving Ogun East Senator, Gbenga Daniel, is locked in a political battle with Governor Dapo Abiodun over the senatorial seat.
Similarly, Gombe State Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya is contesting against his predecessor, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, for a Senate ticket.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, who is seeking the APC governorship ticket in Abia State, is also among those awaiting clearance.
Kalu recently faced a petition alleging that he attended the Nigerian Law School while simultaneously participating in the National Youth Service Corps scheme.
The development comes amid growing tension within the APC, as many aspirants continue to insist on direct primaries instead of consensus arrangements.
Some aspirants reportedly threatened to resist any attempt to impose candidates.
Reacting to the rising tension, APC National Chairman warned aspirants against violence and anti-party activities.
In a statement issued through his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, Yiltwatda said the party would not tolerate any action capable of disrupting the primary elections.
“The leadership of the party will not tolerate any act capable of disrupting the smooth conduct of the primaries,” he stated.
He warned that aspirants or supporters found sponsoring violence, unrest or anti-party activities would face disciplinary measures, including suspension from the party.
