The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has dismissed the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) declaration that its 2027 presidential ticket remains open to all members despite President Bola Tinubu’s recent endorsement, describing it as a “false open contest” designed to mislead aspirants and generate revenue.
The National Secretary of CUPP, Peter Ameh, made the claim in an interview with PUNCH Online on Friday, following comments by APC’s National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, who told journalists earlier in the week that the party would not shut its doors to any member interested in challenging Tinubu for the ticket.
“We never said we had locked the door,” Argungu said. “We are only telling people that we appreciate what the President is doing for the country and that he deserves a second term in office when we roundly endorsed him recently.”
But Ameh insisted the APC’s position was deceptive, warning that aspirants could be lured into spending huge sums on nomination forms in a contest where “the outcome appears to be cast in stone.”
“The public endorsement of President Tinubu by recognised party organs effectively signals that the outcome of the APC presidential primary is predetermined. Such actions cast doubt on the fairness and transparency of the process,” Ameh said.
“This approach not only undermines the principles of democracy but also portrays the APC as prioritising revenue generation over fostering a level playing field for all aspirants.”
The CUPP scribe argued that the ruling party’s tactics erode public trust and risk deepening perceptions of corruption and bias in Nigeria’s electoral system.
Similarly, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) faulted the APC for stifling internal democracy. Its National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, said the ruling party has become notorious for imposition and godfatherism.
“It’s not a surprise that internal democracy is being stifled within APC and members are deprived of the freedom of participation,” Aiyenigba said. “But the good news is that the undemocratic values of the ruling party do not define our democracy as a nation. The SDP remains the bastion of democracy and will once again demonstrate an open contest in 2027.”
Also reacting, a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Timothy Osadolor, accused the APC of playing politics with the intelligence of its members.
“This is what you get when people engage their mouth before their head the tendency is to overshoot,” Osadolor said. “That comment by the APC Organising Secretary is the most unfortunate statement to have been made. He is mocking the sensibilities of would-be aspirants whose fate has already been sealed.”
The reactions from the opposition underline a growing debate over the credibility of the APC’s internal processes ahead of the 2027 elections. While the ruling party insists it welcomes all aspirants, critics say the overwhelming endorsement of President Tinubu by party structures leaves little room for genuine competition.