2027 Presidency: APC Grants Tinubu “No-Screening” Waiver As Party Insists Sitting President Need Not Queue

Akahi News learnt that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress has officially waived the usual screening requirements for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the party’s 2027 presidential primary elections.

The decision, reached at the NWC’s 188th meeting on Wednesday, means the sitting President will not appear before any screening committee. Akahi News gathered that the party invoked its own constitution — specifically Article 13.4 (xiii) and (xiv) — which allows the NWC to organise primaries and grant waivers in special circumstances deemed to serve the party’s best interest.

It was alleged that the move effectively deems President Tinubu “duly screened” without the physical rigour expected of other aspirants. But is the rulebook being followed, or is it being rewritten for one man? That is the question echoing through political circles in Abuja and beyond.

Why The APC Says A Sitting President Does Not Need Another Screening

In a statement signed by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, after the closed-door meeting, the NWC argued that requiring President Tinubu’s physical appearance before a screening committee at this time would be — in their exact words — “redundant and unnecessary.”

Akahi News had earlier reported that the President had already been screened and cleared ahead of the 2022 presidential primaries. Party insiders also pointed to a cascade of endorsements and votes of confidence from major organs: the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), the leadership and members of the National Assembly, and other party bodies at the APC National Summit of May 22, 2025, plus subsequent statutory events.

But here is the philosophical twist — if a man was fit to drive three years ago, does that automatically mean his vision, his papers, and his vehicle remain in perfect order today? Nigerian democracy demands answers. The common man, watching from his one-room apartment in Ajegunle, might ask: “If I seek a party ticket for councillor, will they wave me through because I once contested before?” The silence is deafening.

What This Means For Other Aspirants And The 2027 Race

The waiver granted to President Tinubu does not necessarily shut the door on other aspirants. However, political observers note that it sets a powerful precedent. Akahi News gathered that the APC is likely to argue that the President’s position as the party’s leader and the incumbent Commander-in-Chief places him in a unique category — one where the usual rules of political conduct bend.

For Nigerians, the deeper question is not about screening forms. It is about the health of internal democracy. When a party waives its own processes for one candidate, does it strengthen the party or weaken the trust of millions who voted? Remember the words of an old Lagos taxi driver: “If the leopard changes its spots, it is still a leopard.” The APC must convince Nigerians that its spots remain those of fairness and transparency.

The 2027 election is still months away, but the chess pieces are already moving. Peter Obi has been attacking subsidy fraud as organised crime. Other opposition figures are sharpening their own knives. And President Tinubu, now cleared without clearing, will watch from the Presidential Villa as the drama unfolds.

Why This Matters To Every Nigerian Voter

Consider a small business owner in Onitsha who wants to run for ward chairman. She must queue, present documents, face a screening panel, answer tough questions, and possibly be disqualified for a missing stamp. Yet the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria — a man seeking to retain the most powerful office in the nation — does not have to sit before any panel.

Is that equity? Or is it the logic of power protecting its own? Akahi News recalls that during the 2019 election cycle, even sitting Presidents in some advanced democracies submitted themselves to party vetting. Nigeria is not America. But Nigeria is also not a kingdom.

It is not a child’s play, this business of choosing a leader. Every waiver, every skipped step, every “redundant” requirement chips away at the foundation of electoral credibility. And when the foundation cracks, the entire house trembles.

The ordinary Nigerian — the farmer in Borno, the teacher in Delta, the okada rider in Ibadan — may not read Article 13.4 of the APC constitution. But they know injustice when they smell it. And they remember at the polling booth.

📌 Fact Summary Box

Decision: APC NWC waives screening for President Bola Tinubu ahead of 2027 presidential primaries.

Legal basis: Article 13.4 (xiii) and (xiv) of APC Constitution — allows waivers for special circumstances.

Statement by: Felix Morka, APC National Publicity Secretary.

APC’s argument: Tinubu already screened for 2022 primaries; incumbent President’s appearance is “redundant and unnecessary.”

Endorsements cited: Progressive Governors Forum, National Assembly leadership, APC National Summit (May 22, 2025).

Key question: Does a sitting President deserve different treatment from other aspirants under same party rules?

Before You Go: Your Child’s Academic Success Starts Here — Akahi Tutors, Ile-Ife

While politicians bend rules to secure their ambitions, wise parents are bending their energy toward securing their children’s futures. Akahi Tutors, Ile-Ife is currently preparing students for JAMB, Post-UTME, WAEC, NECO, GCE, JUPEB, Pre-degree and School of Nursing entrance examinations. No waivers are given here — every student is screened, taught, and groomed for excellence. Call Akahi Tutors on 08038644328 or send a WhatsApp message to wa.me/2348038644328. Because when the political noise fades, education remains the only currency that never devalues.

Akahi News will keep watch on the 2027 primaries and every twist of party manoeuvres. Stay with us. Stay sharp. And never stop demanding that those who seek to rule us should first respect the rules that bind us.