President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yesterday, took the first major step towards realising his re-election bid in 2027 with the purchase of his N100 million All Progressives Congress (APC) Expression of Interest and Presidential Nomination Forms in Abuja.
The highest political decision-making body in Lagos State, Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), which took credit for the purchase, also obtained Expression of Interest and Governorship Nomination Forms for the state’s deputy governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat.
Chairman of GAC, Alhaji Tajudeen Olusi, stated the developments at a press conference at Marina, Lagos, disclosing that the money for the purchase was put together by members who expressed confidence in Tinubu and Hamzat’s leadership abilities.
He, however, denied reports that Tinubu’s forms were purchased by a member of the House of Representatives from Lagos State, Hon. James Faleke.
Earlier, Faleke, at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, stated that he, alongside other supporters, was at the headquarters to “do the needful”, disclosing that the re-election process of the president has begun.
The presidential nomination and expression of interest forms were presented to Faleke by APC National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, after the payment of N100 million.
Faleke also purchased his own form, and that of the senator representing Lagos West, Senator Idiat Adebule.
He stated, “So for all support groups, who have made efforts, who have contributed money to purchase the form, I have done so on their behalf, on behalf of Nigerians.
“There is no one particular person that has done this. It is on behalf of all Nigerians. Just as we did pre-2023 election, I was also privileged with some leaders to buy the form.
“Here again, I am privileged to buy the form on behalf of all Nigerians, for our president, for our performing president. And by the grace of God, 2027 will be a reality.
“By the grace of God, he will contest and he will win the election. At the same time, I am also privi-leged, with my friend here, Honourable Ajala, to pick the form for the incoming governor of Lagos, Dr. Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat.”
Faleke added, “And let me also say that those of us who contributed money to buy this form were more than 1,000 in Lagos. It is not just one person. All of us cannot come here and pick the form. Only representatives are sent.
“And I am also lucky to be one of those who have been sent to pick the form. At the same time, I picked my own form to come back to the House of Reps. And you can see the form with me.
“So, I am lucky. And I am also waiting behind to get the receipt of our incumbent senator, Senator Idiat Adebule, that I will pick the form for her from my west senatorial district.”
Asked if he was bothered by the decision of opposition leaders to send a consensus candidate to try to wrest power from Tinubu, Faleke said the coming together of opposition parties was part of democracy.
According to him, “First, let me tell you that political parties can come together as a part of democracy. When we do our work, they will do their work.”
Lending his voice to the development, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu revealed that the Lagos APC purchased the presidential nomination forms for Tinubu because of the confidence they had in his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and reforms.
The strategic endorsement positioned Hamzat as the leading governorship contender within APC as political activities gathered momentum ahead of the 2027 general election.
