President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has emerged as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the 2027 general election after recording overwhelming victories in the party’s direct primary election conducted nationwide on Saturday.
The ruling party held simultaneous presidential primaries across 8,809 wards nationwide, with Tinubu facing only one challenger, Mr. Stanley Osifo. Results announced from several states showed the president winning by massive margins, with Osifo recording little or no votes in many states.
Tinubu and the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, voted at their ward in Ikoyi, Lagos State, where the president later declared that democracy is sustained by active citizen participation rather than “noise, speculation, or borrowed platforms.”
“Today, I participated in the APC Presidential Direct Primary at my ward in Ikoyi, Lagos, alongside my dear wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON,” Tinubu stated.
“Democracy is not sustained by noise, speculation, or borrowed platforms. It is sustained by citizens who show up, party members who believe, institutions that endure, the grassroots, and a political family rooted in the people.”
Across several states, the APC recorded overwhelming support for the president. In Rivers State, Tinubu secured 280,468 votes, while in Kaduna State, party members unanimously endorsed him through the affirmation process conducted across all wards.
In Akwa Ibom State, Tinubu polled 389,197 votes, while Kogi State recorded 197,370 votes in his favour. He also secured victories in Ogun, Bayelsa, Osun, and several other states as APC governors, lawmakers, and party officials rallied support for his re-election bid.
In Osun State, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, who served as the state collation officer, announced that Tinubu polled 100,880 votes from 109,806 registered APC members accredited for the exercise.
The APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yiltwada, also participated in the exercise in Plateau State, while governors and party leaders joined the process across the federation.
Governor Hope Uzodimma urged opposition parties to emulate the APC’s grassroots mobilisation strategy, insisting the ruling party had built a stronger democratic structure through electronic membership registration and validation.
Meanwhile, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirmed that Tinubu will officially receive the APC Certificate of Return and the party flag on Sunday at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.
The APC primaries come amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general election, with opposition parties intensifying coalition talks and preparations for their own primaries.
What You Should Know
The APC presidential primary marks a major step toward the 2027 general election, officially positioning President Bola Tinubu as the ruling party’s flag bearer for a second term.
The nationwide direct primary showcased the APC’s strong internal structure and grassroots mobilisation strategy, with governors, lawmakers and party stakeholders openly backing Tinubu.
The outcome also sets the stage for a heated political contest in 2027 as opposition parties continue coalition discussions and preparations to challenge the ruling party.
Tinubu’s overwhelming victory across multiple states further signals the APC’s intention to consolidate power ahead of the next general elections in Nigeria.
