Tinubu Launches 2027 Re-Election Campaign as APC Starts Distributing Nomination Forms

President Bola Tinubu has officially kicked off his re-election bid for 2027 by purchasing the All Progressives Congress presidential nomination and expression of interest forms in Abuja, with a combined fee of N100 million paid on his behalf by loyalists and support groups from across the country.

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The forms were presented to Reps James Faleke, who represented the president, by the APC National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, in a ceremony that marked the beginning of Tinubu's re-election campaign.

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Faleke, who serves as a leading figure in the Tinubu Support Group, also collected nomination forms for three other aspirants, including Lagos Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, incumbent Senator Idiat Adebule of Lagos West, and himself, as he seeks to return to the House of Representatives.

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In a statement to journalists, Faleke dismissed suggestions that a single individual or group had sponsored the presidential form, emphasizing that the funds were pooled by over a thousand contributors from Lagos and beyond.

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Faleke expressed confidence in President Tinubu's electoral prospects, stating, "By the grace of God, he will contest and he will win the election," and also expressed optimism about the governorship prospects of Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, saying, "I am also privileged, with my friend here, Honourable Ajala, to pick the forms for the incoming governor of Lagos, Dr. Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat."

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Faleke noted that the large number of contributors made it impossible for all of them to be physically present, saying, "Those of us who contributed money to buy this form were more than 1,000 in Lagos, it is not just one person, all of us cannot come here and pick the form, only representatives are sent."

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Faleke also mentioned that he was awaiting the receipt for Senator Idiat Adebule's form, saying, "I am also waiting behind to get the receipt of our incumbent senator, Senator Idiat Adebule, that I will pick the form for her from my West Senatorial District."

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The purchase of forms came amid allegations that the APC was selectively selling nomination forms, but the party's Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Duro Meseko, denied the claims, saying, "Nomination forms for all aspirants seeking offices under the APC are open, nomination forms are open for all members of the party contesting elections."

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Meanwhile, Senator Shehu Buba, who represents Bauchi South, purchased a governorship nomination form to contest the Bauchi State governorship seat in 2027, describing himself as the first aspirant to formally obtain the form.

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Buba expressed optimism about his chances against the incumbent Peoples Democratic Party administration in the state, saying, "I thank God for allowing us to witness another cycle of elections, I am physically present to obtain my nomination forms, and I am also calling on Nigerians — or those aspiring to contest various positions being advertised by the party — that they should come."

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In a related development, Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Ododo, convened a stakeholders' meeting aimed at arriving at a consensus arrangement for elective positions ahead of the 2027 cycle, as campaigns intensified in his Kogi Central Senatorial District.

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The meeting, which was attended by aspirants including Hon. M.I. Onimisi of Adavi/Okehi Federal Constituency and Hon. Muhammed Ozigi Tijani of Okene/Ogori-Magongo, did not yield a clear resolution, with discordant positions reported among those who attended.