The All Progressives Congress has waived the screening requirement for President Bola Tinubu, effectively clearing him to participate in the party’s presidential primary without appearing before a screening panel. The decision was taken at the APC National Working Committee’s 188th meeting on May 6, 2026, and announced by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka.
According to the APC, the waiver was granted under Article 13.4 (xiii) and (xiv) of the party’s constitution, which empowers the NWC to organise and supervise primaries and, in special circumstances, grant waivers in the party’s interest. Morka said the committee also considered Tinubu’s earlier screening ahead of the 2022 presidential primaries, arguing that another appearance would be “redundant and unnecessary.” The ruling party said the decision was further influenced by endorsements already received by the president from key APC stakeholders, including the Progressive Governors Forum, members of the National Assembly, and other organs of the party at the APC National Summit of May 22, 2025.
APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda said the large number of aspirants submitting forms across different offices showed the party remained competitive and nationally attractive ahead of 2027. He described the submission venue as a “beehive of activities” and said the ruling party was not worried by recent opposition defections, arguing that the opposition’s main challenge was internal fragmentation rather than pressure from the APC. The waiver strengthens Tinubu’s path within the APC as the party moves deeper into its primary season and signals that the president remains firmly backed by the party leadership heading into the 2027 race.
