Deputy National Organising Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chidi Duru has noted that the party will not prevent any interested party member from challenging President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 presidential ticket.
Despite widespread support among party leaders for the President to secure a second term, the ruling party maintains that the race will remain fully open to all qualified aspirants in the spirit of true democratic participation.
Addressing journalists, Chidi stressed that internal democracy is a fundamental pillar of the organization.
He acknowledged the strong probability of a consensus candidate emerging ahead of the elections but explicitly clarified that this arrangement would not be used to suppress the political ambitions of other members.
Duru noted that the party welcomes anyone willing to test their popularity and viability at the primary polls, an approach he says reinforces the APC’s democratic credentials.
Delving into the dynamics of the upcoming electoral cycle, Duru explained the concept of the right of first refusal typically enjoyed by incumbents.
He pointed out that serving leaders inherently possess an advantage when seeking re-election, provided their tenure has satisfied both party members and the broader electorate.
According to the party Chieftain, performance remains the ultimate metric; a successful track record naturally incentivizes a political party to present the incumbent to the voters again, whereas retaining an underperforming leader severely risks electoral defeat at the general polls.
This principle of performance-based continuity, Duru argued, is not limited solely to the presidency but extends equally to state governors and other elected officials who have performed creditably and deserve a chance to complete a second term.
Addressing potential fears of internal party friction stemming from these processes, he reiterated that the constitution inherently protects the right of all elected officials to seek re-election.
These structural and electoral strategies, alongside other pressing party affairs, are expected to dominate discussions when the APC leadership convenes for its highly anticipated national convention, slated to take place in Abuja from March 27 to March 28, 2026.
