Stanley Osifo, an Edo State politician and former presidential hopeful, has officially entered the 2027 race by purchasing the All Progressives Congress nomination and expression of interest forms.
The transaction, totaling ₦100 million, was verified through a video shared by Imran Muhammad, an aide to the APC National Chairman.
This move establishes Osifo as a formal challenger to President Bola Tinubu for the party’s ticket, even as many top party figures continue to back the incumbent.
During a press briefing in Abuja, Osifo addressed rumors suggesting that his campaign was being funded by the presidency.
He dismissed these claims as recycled gossip from his previous political attempts.
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He remarked, “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.”
He further challenged his critics by stating, “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.”
Osifo maintained that his pursuit of the presidency is born out of a personal sense of duty and a flawless disciplinary record within the APC.
He noted, “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.”
He insisted that while endorsements for other candidates are common, they do not supersede the constitutional guidelines that govern how the party must select its flagbearer.
The APC has scheduled its presidential primary for May 15 to 16, with the high cost of entry including a ₦30 million expression of interest fee and a ₦70 million nomination fee.
According to the timeline released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, party primaries must be concluded by May 30, 2026.
Official campaigning for the national elections is set to begin on August 19, 2026, leading up to the presidential and National Assembly polls on January 16, 2027.
