The All Progressives Congress has waived the screening requirement for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the party’s 2027 presidential primaries, declaring him duly cleared under the party’s constitution and internal procedures.
The decision was reached during the National Working Committee’s 188th meeting held Wednesday at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.
In a statement issued after the meeting, APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka said the waiver was granted under Article 13.4 (xiii) and (xiv) of the party’s constitution, which empowers the NWC to organize and supervise primaries and grant waivers in special circumstances.
“The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress, at its 188th meeting held today, May 6, 2026, resolved to waive, and has waived, screening requirements for His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and deemed him duly screened in accordance with the Constitution of the party for the purpose of participation in the upcoming primary elections,” the statement said.
The party said the decision followed endorsements and votes of confidence received by Tinubu from major APC stakeholders, including the Progressive Governors Forum, members of the National Assembly and other party organs during the APC National Summit on May 22, 2025, and other statutory meetings.
The NWC also said requiring Tinubu to physically appear before a screening committee would be “redundant and unnecessary,” noting that he had already been screened and cleared ahead of the party’s 2022 presidential primaries.
The APC began the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms on April 28, with the exercise ending Wednesday night. Screening of aspirants is scheduled to begin May 8.
James Faleke, founder of the Tinubu Support Groups and member representing Ikeja Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, purchased the N100 million expression of interest and nomination forms for the president on April 28.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for Jan. 16, 2027, while governorship and state House of Assembly elections will be held Feb. 6, 2027.
INEC said party primaries and the resolution of related disputes will take place between April 23 and May 30, 2026. Campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections will begin Aug. 19, 2026, while governorship and state assembly campaigns will commence Sept. 9, 2026.
