A wave of last-minute activity swept through the Abuja Continental Hotel on Sunday as the All Progressives Congress wrapped up the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms for the 2027 general elections.
Hundreds of aspirants thronged the venue, arriving with large entourages of supporters, creating a near-chaotic atmosphere that stretched security operatives at the entrance as enthusiastic backers struggled to gain access.
Inside the hall, party loyalists and praise singers filled the space, while journalists jostled to secure interviews with aspirants picking up their forms.
The APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, who monitored the exercise, expressed satisfaction with the turnout, describing it as a reflection of the party’s democratic credentials.
According to him, the steady influx of aspirants demonstrated the openness of the party’s process and its growing appeal across the country.
“Our party remains one of the most democratic platforms in Nigeria.
The large turnout and the willingness of individuals to contest even against sitting officeholders underline the level of internal democracy we uphold,” he said.
Yilwatda added that the process had been seamless, noting that banks handling payments and party officials overseeing documentation had performed efficiently, with no reported complaints.
Observers, however, noted that the exercise is generating significant revenue for the ruling party, with millions of naira reportedly realised from the ongoing sale of forms.
Under the party’s guidelines, aspirants for State Houses of Assembly are required to pay ₦1m for expression of interest and ₦5m for nomination forms.
Those vying for the House of Representatives are to pay ₦1m and ₦9m respectively, while Senate aspirants are billed ₦3m and ₦17m.
Governorship hopefuls are to part with ₦10m for expression of interest and ₦40m for nomination forms.
For the presidential race, aspirants are expected to pay ₦30m and ₦70m respectively, bringing the total to ₦100m.
The sale of forms, initially scheduled to close last Friday, was extended to Monday due to the Workers’ Day public holiday.
Although the party has yet to release official figures, sources within its hierarchy disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and an Edo-born businessman, Stanley Osifo, have obtained presidential nomination forms.
The sources further revealed that as of midweek, about 34 governorship aspirants had purchased forms, while over 200 aspirants seeking seats in the National Assembly had also completed the process, underscoring heightened political activity ahead of the 2027 polls.