The Young Progressives Party (YPP) has unveiled Mrs Anita Zugwai-Chukwu as its sole presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, following her adoption at the party’s national convention in Abuja on Saturday.
The convention brought together party executives, delegates, and supporters from across the country, marking a key moment in the party’s early preparations for the next general election cycle.
Announcing the development, the National Chairman of YPP, Bishop Amakiri, said the party remained committed to its founding ideology of service, accountability, and credible leadership despite Nigeria’s evolving political dynamics.
He said the party had consistently produced credible candidates who had gone on to win elective offices, adding that its ideology of “service to the people” remained its guiding principle.
According to him, elected officials on the YPP platform had continued to uphold the party’s values in public service and legislative responsibilities.
Amakiri also reflected on the contribution of the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, describing him as a major force in the party’s rise to national visibility.
“It would be unfair to say that Senator Ifeanyi Ubah’s death did not affect the party. He was a strong force and contributed immensely,” he said.
He, however, dismissed suggestions that the party had weakened or was considering a merger with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that YPP remained independent and focused on strengthening its structures.
“To my knowledge, no discussion of that nature has taken place. There is no reason for YPP to surrender its structure to another party,” he said.
Amakiri said the party was actively expanding its grassroots network and mobilising Nigerians ahead of the 2027 elections, while maintaining its identity as a reform-oriented political platform.
He questioned the basis for any potential alliance with the ruling party, arguing that YPP remained committed to offering an alternative political direction.
In her acceptance speech, Zugwai-Chukwu pledged transparent, inclusive, and accountable leadership if elected president.
She called on Nigerians, particularly young people and women, to join her campaign for justice, security, and economic opportunity, describing her candidacy as a movement for national renewal.
