The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has announced that it will not present its own presidential candidate in the 2027 general election, stating that it plans to adopt President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as its preferred candidate.
The National Chairman of the party, Barrister Sly Ezeokenwa, made this known during a press briefing in Lagos while responding to questions on the party’s decision to support a candidate from another political platform.
According to him, the decision is based on the confidence the party has in Tinubu and what it described as the shared values between APGA and the President’s political agenda.
“We hope that during the national convention of the APC, if he secures the nomination of his party through direct primaries, I can bet you that the national convention of APGA will adopt him as our presidential candidate,” he said.
Ezeokenwa explained that adopting a presidential candidate from another political party is not a new development for APGA.
He recalled that the party supported former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan during the 2011 and 2015 presidential elections, noting that the arrangement was lawful and within the party’s constitutional rights.
He added that the decision to back Tinubu is influenced by the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which the party believes aligns with its own political philosophy.
“We decided to return to this policy for a reason. Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda resonates with us. He has shown us good faith. We share similar ideology. If he gets the nomination of his party, we’ll adopt him,” Ezeokenwa said.
The APGA chairman also spoke on recent amendments to the Electoral Act, particularly the provision introducing direct primaries for political parties.
Under the amended law, political parties are required to submit their membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at least 21 days before conducting primaries, congresses or conventions.
The law further stipulates that only party members whose names appear in the official register will be eligible to vote or contest during party primaries.
However, Ezeokenwa criticised aspects of the provision, arguing that political parties should have the autonomy to determine their membership without external interference.
“The constitution says you must belong to a political party but you don’t determine for me who my members should be. It’s none of your business.
“There is a conscious attempt to emasculate smaller parties from fielding credible candidates. But I believe one of the positive sides of the new law is that it will entrench belief in political party ideology. Today people just see political parties as special purpose vehicles. We accept the direct primaries wholeheartedly. We urge INEC to ensure credible elections.”
He also disclosed that APGA has begun a digital membership registration and revalidation exercise in compliance with the new electoral guidelines.
According to him, the registration process commenced on March 1 and is expected to run for one month.
