A former presidential aspirant from Edo State, Stanley Osifo, has purchased the N100 million All Progressives Congress presidential nomination and expression of interest forms to contest the party’s ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The development was confirmed in a video shared by the media aide to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Imran Muhammad, on Tuesday, showing the payment and acceptance of the forms valued at N100 million.

Osifo’s move follows his earlier declaration to contest the 2027 presidential ticket of the APC, setting up a potential challenge to President Bola Tinubu despite growing endorsements for the incumbent.

At a press conference in Abuja on Monday, Osifo dismissed claims linking his ambition to the President, saying, “It is not strange to hear people say Tinubu is the one sponsoring me. Even when I wanted to run against Buhari in 2019, I was told the current president was bankrolling me.

“I can categorically tell you, as I stand before you today, that I have never benefited one Kobo from him. Thank God Asiwaju is still alive till today. If anybody has proof, let them show the world. So, I am not worried about such an insinuation.”

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He added, “I am declaring interest and running for this ticket because of the strong conviction that I have. I have not been found wanting in any area or sanctioned for doing anything related to anti-party activities.”

Osifo maintained that endorsements by party leaders do not override constitutional provisions guiding candidate selection, insisting he remains undeterred by growing support for Tinubu within the party.

The APC has fixed its presidential primary for May 15 to 16, with nomination forms pegged at N100 million, comprising N30 million for expression of interest and N70 million for nomination.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission, party primaries, including the resolution of related disputes, will run from April 23, 2026, to May 30, 2026, while Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, and Governorship and State Assembly polls for February 6, 2027.

The commission added that campaigns for the Presidential and National Assembly elections will begin on August 19, 2026, while Governorship and State Assembly campaigns will commence on September 9, 2026. (The PUNCH)