By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Edo Trader Buys APC ₦100m Presidential Form, Throws Hat Into Ring Against Tinubu
A businessman from Edo State, Osifo Stanley, has formally entered Nigeria’s 2027 presidential race after purchasing the All Progressives Congress (APC) expression of interest and nomination forms worth ₦100 million.
Stanley’s decision makes him one of the earliest aspirants to openly declare his intention to contest the ruling party’s presidential ticket, setting up what could become an intriguing challenge to President Bola Tinubu, who is widely expected to seek re-election.
The development comes barely hours after supporters of President Tinubu secured the same nomination forms on his behalf, further cementing his bid for a second term in office.
Stanley completed the purchase on Tuesday at the Sheraton Hotel in Abuja, instantly drawing national attention as the first known APC member to publicly indicate his readiness to contest against the incumbent president in the party’s 2027 primary.
His emergence was publicised in a video shared on X by Imran Muhammad, Senior Special Assistant on New Media to APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda.
Addressing journalists in Abuja earlier, Stanley dismissed speculation that his presidential ambition was being financed or encouraged by President Tinubu.
According to him, he has never received financial support from the president and challenged anyone with evidence to make it public.
He maintained that the APC constitution and Nigeria’s electoral laws grant every qualified party member the right to contest for any office, regardless of endorsements from party leaders or governors.
Stanley stressed that no endorsement automatically guarantees a candidate the party’s ticket.
His declaration comes despite a wave of endorsements already secured by President Tinubu from APC governors and other influential stakeholders across the country.
The president has been widely projected as the party’s consensus candidate, with many believing he would face little or no opposition during the primary process.
Stanley’s entry, however, introduces an unexpected twist and signals that the contest may not be a mere formality.
The APC had earlier announced that its presidential nomination and expression of interest forms would remain at ₦100 million, unchanged from the 2023 election cycle.
The fee consists of ₦30 million for the expression of interest form and ₦70 million for the nomination form.
Political observers say the staggering cost continues to raise concerns over the growing financial barriers to political participation in Nigeria, especially when compared to the country’s minimum wage and average earnings.
With the race still in its early stages, Stanley’s bold move has already stirred conversations within the APC and across Nigeria’s political landscape.
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