As the All Progressives Congress (APC) begins its march towards 2027, a clash over access to nomination forms has exposed a deeper battle for control, with governors and aspirants locked in a contest that risks triggering a damaging internal rupture.

Some aggrieved aspirants yesterday raised the alarm that state governors in the party have hijacked the distribution of expression of interest and nomination forms meant for the states, with a view to allocating them to preferred candidates.

They called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene by calling the governors to order.

The development came to the fore when a presidential aspirant, Chief Osifo Stanley, declared in Abuja that he had been unable to obtain the party’s nomination form after making repeated efforts since last weekend.

According to him, attempts to reach party officials and secure the necessary payment details proved abortive.
“I made calls between Saturday and yesterday to officials of the party. The account number required to pay for the form is yet to be made available to me as we speak,” he said.

Investigations revealed that Stanley’s experience may not be isolated. Multiple aspirants seeking tickets for governorship, National Assembly and state assembly positions are reportedly facing similar challenges, raising concerns over transparency in the process.

Credible sources in some states disclosed that the forms, which ought to have been dispatched to the 36 states since last Saturday, have yet to be seen. They urged the party’s national headquarters and its National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, to clarify the situation.

As of yesterday, the forms had yet to reach Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and several other states, as confirmed by The Guardian. A source alleged that state governors should be held responsible for the delay.

The development reinforces earlier claims that, across several states, the scramble for nomination forms has exposed deep-seated tensions within the party, with many aspirants reportedly unable to access the forms without the backing of their governors. Insiders warn that the situation is breeding resentment and fuelling fears that the party’s internal democratic processes are being eroded.

Investigations reveal that in key states, governors and their loyalists have allegedly taken control of party structures, influencing not only who obtains the forms but also who eventually emerges as candidates. This, observers say, has narrowed the political space within the party, sidelining grassroots aspirants and those outside the governors’ political camps.

The situation has revived longstanding concerns about the dominance of governors in the APC’s internal affairs. Party stakeholders have repeatedly cautioned against what they describe as the “over-centralisation” of power at the state level, warning that such tendencies could trigger factional disputes and destabilise the party.

A party chieftain, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the unfolding scenario mirrors past experiences where imposition of candidates led to protests, litigation and, in some cases, electoral losses. “When forms are no longer accessible to everyone and the process is skewed in favour of a few, you are setting the stage for crisis. People will resist being shut out,” he said.

Another party source blamed the situation on alleged interference by members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, accusing them of attempting to hijack and control access to the forms in favour of preferred aspirants.

The source also linked the development to the open endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), suggesting that the move may have complicated the process for other presidential hopefuls.

Despite the hurdles, Stanley insisted that no endorsement overrides constitutional provisions or party rules.

“There is no part of our party constitution that says when people endorse the President, he automatically becomes the candidate or remains the only pathway. The constitution and INEC regulations empower me to run. I believe strongly that we all have the right to enjoy our constitutional rights,” he stated.

The 50-year-old aspirant said his ambition is driven by a desire to reposition Nigeria for sustainable growth, with a focus on key sectors including the economy, security, healthcare, water resources and regional integration.

Tracing his political journey, the Edo-born politician noted that he began his career in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 2018, later obtained a form under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), before joining the APC.

He added that he contested in 2023 and actively supported President Tinubu’s victory.

He dismissed claims of political sponsorship, maintaining that he has financed his political activities independently.

On governance, Stanley acknowledged efforts by the current administration but stressed the need for new approaches, particularly in the power sector.

“Power is the engine room that drives the global economy. We have dams, solar and gas. With more research and the right policies, we can do much better,” he said.

He also decried the monetisation of Nigeria’s electoral process, arguing that leadership should not be determined by financial muscle.

“In other parts of the world, leaders emerge without excessive spending. We have seen examples in countries like the UK and the U.S. Nigeria deserves a system where competence, not money, determines leadership,” he added.

Stanley further invoked Nigeria’s founding leaders — Ahmadu Bello, Nnamdi Azikiwe and Obafemi Awolowo — as symbols of the kind of visionary leadership the country needs.

This came as the APC Publicity Secretary in Oyo State, Olawale Sadare, confirmed that no forms had reached the state. He added that, contrary to the allegations, aspirants are expected to obtain their nomination forms at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja, rather than at the state level.

Also debunking the claims, Abimbola Tooki, Special Adviser to the National Chairman on Media and Communications Strategy, said the party never indicated that the sale of forms would be decentralised.

While acknowledging that governors are leaders of the party in their respective states, he insisted that such status does not give them the latitude to tamper with internal democratic processes designed to ensure fairness and equity for all aspirants. He urged party members to disregard fears of any alleged hijack of nomination forms.