A claim that Bola Ahmed Tinubu secured nearly 11 million votes in the presidential primary of the All Progressives Congress has sparked widespread debate and reactions across social media platforms.
The controversy followed a State House press release shared by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, which stated that Tinubu polled 10,999,162 votes during the APC nationwide presidential primary exercise.
According to the release, another aspirant in the race reportedly secured slightly above 16,000 votes.
The figures immediately triggered intense reactions online, with many Nigerians questioning the credibility and realism of the reported turnout.
A major point raised by critics is the comparison with the 2023 presidential election, where Tinubu officially secured approximately 8.7 million votes nationwide to emerge president. Several commentators argued that it appeared unusual for an internal party primary to allegedly produce a turnout higher than the total votes recorded during a national general election.
The debate has also focused on the state-by-state vote breakdown attributed to the APC primary, particularly figures reportedly coming from regions where the party has historically struggled politically, including parts of the South-East.
While critics described the numbers as inflated and difficult to reconcile with political realities on ground, supporters of the president defended the outcome, insisting the figures reflected the APC’s extensive membership structure and nationwide mobilisation during the direct primary exercise.
Some APC loyalists also argued that the use of direct primaries across thousands of wards nationwide naturally increased participation compared to previous internal party contests.
Despite the growing online controversy, the APC has not released any additional clarification beyond the initial statement circulated by the presidency.
Read some netizens’ reactions below;
@ubongutioh: He scored a mere 8 million in the last election. That 8 million was inflated by W!ke and others. Then 3 years later, he scored 11 million in the APC primary election. Magic. My worry is why shame no de catch una!
@uguruezine: Even Tinubu himself will be very surprised at this number….
@Akin_Malaolu: You are all Jokers. 10.9m is your rigging template.
@consultchimosky: You guys still rig in your own primary election against your own members too.
@OkekeRowla264: This shameless old men are celebrating falsified primary polls figures when 4yr old kids/pupils are held captive by kidnappers due to their governance incompetence. Shame !!
@iOccupyNigeria: Well done! (on the breakdown exposing massive jumps in votes)
The development has continued to dominate conversations on platforms such as X, Facebook and Instagram, where supporters and critics of the ruling party remain sharply divided over the authenticity and interpretation of the figures.
What You Should Know
The APC recently adopted a nationwide direct primary system for its 2027 presidential primary election, allowing registered party members across all wards to participate in the exercise.
The process was conducted simultaneously across Nigeria’s 8,809 wards, with President Tinubu emerging as the overwhelming winner against his challenger. However, Nigerian party primaries have historically faced scrutiny over transparency, inflated figures and internal disputes.
The reported 10.9 million votes have now intensified conversations about internal party democracy, voter verification and the credibility of political statistics in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.
