Jigawa APC Elders Buy N150m Nomination Forms for Tinubu, Gov Namadi Ahead of 2027 Election

By Aluko Adeyemi

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders Committee in Jigawa State has thrown its weight behind President Bola Tinubu and Governor Umar Namadi, purchasing nomination forms worth N150 million to endorse both leaders as the party’s sole candidates for the 2027 presidential and governorship elections.

The move, announced during a strategic stakeholders’ meeting in Dutse, signals early political alignment within the party as preparations intensify ahead of the next general elections.

According to the Jigawa APC Chairman, Ahmed Garba, who also heads the Elders Committee, the decision followed extensive consultations among party leaders, elders, and grassroots stakeholders across the state.

He explained that the endorsement is aimed at consolidating party unity, ensuring continuity in governance, and strengthening the APC’s electoral chances in 2027.

“This decision reflects the collective will of party stakeholders in Jigawa to maintain stability and build on the progress recorded at both the national and state levels,” Garba stated.

The APC has already set its presidential primary election for May 15–16, 2026, as part of an early timetable designed to streamline candidate selection and reduce pre-election uncertainties.

Under the party’s guidelines, presidential aspirants are required to pay N100 million for expression of interest and nomination forms, while governorship hopefuls are to pay N50 million — figures that underscore the high stakes involved in Nigeria’s electoral process.

In a significant development, the Jigawa APC Elders Committee also adopted the consensus model for its primaries, a strategy intended to minimise internal conflicts and present a unified front ahead of the elections.

Political observers note that consensus arrangements, while sometimes controversial, have increasingly been used by major parties to avoid divisive primaries and strengthen internal cohesion.

The early endorsement of Tinubu and Namadi is widely seen as a vote of confidence in their leadership. Supporters point to ongoing reforms at the federal level, as well as state-level initiatives in areas such as agriculture, infrastructure, education, and economic development, as justification for continuity.

Analysts say the development could significantly shape the political landscape in Jigawa State, where the APC remains dominant, and may also influence broader national dynamics as other states begin to signal their alignments.

With the 2027 elections still some distance away, the move highlights how early positioning, strategic endorsements, and internal party cohesion are already defining Nigeria’s evolving political terrain.

As political activities gradually intensify nationwide, all eyes will be on how opposition parties respond to such early consolidations within the ruling party, and whether similar consensus-building efforts will emerge across the country.