Primaries: APC waives screening for Tinubu

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially waived the screening requirement for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the party's presidential primary for the 2027 general elections.

The decision was reached during the NWC’s 188th meeting held yesterday, May 6, 2026, and announced by the National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka.

The Rationale: The APC leadership stated that requiring President Tinubu to appear before a screening committee would be "redundant and unnecessary." They cited his status as the incumbent president and the fact that he was already rigorously screened and cleared during the 2022 presidential primaries.

Constitutional Basis: The waiver was granted under Article 13.4 (xiii) and (xiv) of the APC Constitution, which allows the NWC to grant waivers in "special circumstances" that serve the best interests of the party.

Widespread Endorsement: The move follows a series of "vote of confidence" declarations from major party organs, including the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and the leadership of the National Assembly.

Along with the waiver, the APC has updated its schedule for the 2027 election cycle:

Presidential Primary Date: The party has scheduled its presidential primary for May 23, 2026.

Submission Deadline: The deadline for the sale and submission of expression of interest and nomination forms was recently extended to May 6 to accommodate more participants in other elective positions.

Screening for Other Aspirants: While the President has been cleared, all other aspirants for various offices are still required to undergo the standard screening process.

Political Implications
This move effectively solidifies President Tinubu’s position as the party’s consensus candidate for a second term. By removing the screening hurdle, the APC is signaling total internal unity behind the President, even as opposition parties continue to debate their own strategies for the 2027 race.

Critics and some opposition figures have pointed to this as proof of a "coronation" rather than a competition, but the APC maintains that the decision is a pragmatic acknowledgment of the President's leadership and established credentials.