The ruling All Progressives Congress has generated over N4.45 billion from the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms ahead of the 2027 general elections, further strengthening its political and financial dominance despite deepening internal tensions within the party.
The massive revenue haul came from the sale of forms to presidential, governorship, National Assembly and state assembly aspirants across the country, as opposition parties continue to battle internal crises and defections.
The party realised N200 million from the purchase of presidential nomination forms by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and businessman Stanley Osifo. Governorship forms were sold for N50 million each, Senate forms for N20 million, while House of Representatives forms went for N10 million.
Investigations revealed that more than 83 governorship aspirants from 28 states purchased forms, alongside hundreds of National and state Assembly hopefuls, pushing the party’s earnings beyond the N4.45 billion mark.
The development came amid escalating leadership tensions within the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), where supporters of the forum’s chairman and Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, moved swiftly to neutralise alleged attempts to unseat him.
Reports had emerged on Thursday that some governors within the forum had concluded plans to replace Uzodinma with Governor Peter Mbah following growing dissatisfaction within the group.
The anti-Uzodinma bloc was reportedly led by Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State.
However, at a closed-door meeting in Abuja on Friday, 18 APC governors threw their weight behind Uzodinma, passing a vote of confidence on his leadership and that of Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, who serves as deputy chairman of the forum.
Speaking after the meeting, Governor Nasir Idris dismissed reports of division within the forum, insisting that the governors remained united.
“We don’t have any problem to justify what they have said. I want to use this opportunity to move a vote of confidence on our chairman and his deputy,” Idris declared.
Also addressing journalists, Governor Uba Sani described reports of a crisis within the forum as unfortunate and misleading.
“We woke up to very unfortunate reports in the media, but the truth is that the APC Progressive Governors Forum is united and stronger than ever. We are all supporting the President and the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.
Governors present at the meeting included those of Ondo State, Kaduna State, Taraba State, Sokoto State, Ebonyi State, Borno State, Lagos State, Kogi State, Kano State, Yobe State, Kebbi State and Benue State, while governors of Jigawa State and Nasarawa State were represented by their deputies.
Meanwhile, the APC on Friday commenced the screening of governorship, Senate and House of Representatives aspirants ahead of its primaries scheduled for later this month.
The party fixed May 15 for House of Representatives primaries, May 18 for Senate primaries, while governorship primaries are billed for May 21.
The APC also constituted separate committees to screen incumbent governors seeking re-election and governors contesting for Senate seats.
The committee screening incumbent governors is chaired by the party’s National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, with the National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, serving as secretary.
Another committee chaired by former Enugu State APC Chairman, Dr. Ben Nwoye, was constituted to screen other governorship aspirants, while businessman Emeka Offor serves as secretary.
In a related development, two civil society organisations — the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa and the Centre for Policy Advocacy and Leadership Development — petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission over the eligibility of Professor Princewill Igbagara to contest for the Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency seat under the APC platform.
The groups alleged that Igbagara simultaneously held positions as a professor at the Federal University Otuoke and Special Adviser to the Bayelsa State Governor on Science and Technology, contrary to public service and constitutional provisions.
The Executive Director of PAACA, Ezenwa Nwagwu, urged the ICPC to investigate possible violations of public service regulations, constitutional provisions and anti-corruption laws.
Similarly, an APC chieftain from Ekiti State, Hon. Afuye Idowu, petitioned the party’s National Working Committee seeking the disqualification of Senator Cyril Fasuyi from contesting the Ekiti North Senatorial seat.
Idowu accused Fasuyi of poor legislative performance and failing to effectively represent the district at the Senate.
“He has not moved any serious motion or made meaningful contributions to debates on the floor of the Senate, which means the people of Ekiti North lack effective representation,” Idowu alleged.
He warned that party members would reject Fasuyi during the primary election if the APC leadership failed to act on the petition.
