Tinubu Emerges As APC Presidential Candidate during the APC presidential primary held across the 36 states ahead of the 2027 elections.
KaNo—
President Bola Tinubu has secured an overwhelming victory over his sole challenger, Stanley Osifo, in the All Progressives Congress presidential primary, as party structures across the country delivered endorsements for his second-term bid.
The President, who is expected to fly the APC flag in the 2027 general elections, swept across wards and states in a process dominated by endorsements from party organs, governors, and grassroots delegates.
The exercise was conducted across 8,809 wards nationwide, displaying an affirmation of Tinubu’s candidacy, with Osifo recording negligible support.
Although APC organs, including the National Executive Committee, the National Working Committee, the Progressive Governors Forum, and state structures had earlier endorsed Tinubu, the party proceeded with a direct primary to formally ratify its candidate.
Tinubu Emerges As APC Presidential Candidate
The ruling APC gave Tinubu the green light while the opposition African Democratic Congress is still battling internal divisions over its presidential ticket.
The ADC had earlier opted for consensus arrangement, but disagreements among key aspirants—former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, and businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen,have complicated efforts to present a united front.
The party is expected to hold its presidential primary on Monday (tomorrow).
Tinubu Lauds Party Primary
While addressing journalists after casting his vote at his polling unit in Ward L2, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Saturday, President Tinubu described the primary as a demonstration of internal democracy.
He expressed satisfaction with the conduct of party members who organised parallel ward-level voting across the country.
“This is a demonstration of internal democracy. This is politics; grassroots politics, where every member of the party has a right to participate and be involved. It’s to ensure that we have internal democracy, and it’s peaceful and well-organqised.” President Tinubu said
Also speaking on the exercise, the National Secretary of the party, Ajibola Basiru, described the primary as peaceful.
Tinubu Emerges As APC Presidential Candidate
“Party members were happy to go out and vote for the aspirant of their choice. Results have been collated in all the 774 wards and also across the 36 states and the FCT. Some are still doing their state collation now, as we speak. And tomorrow (today) at the ICC, the state coordinator and collation officers will present the results before the presidential primary election committee. I know that from what I have seen so far in terms of images, it’s going to be a landslide victory for President Bola Tinubu. But we’ll wait till the collation is done” he said
In Kaduna, members of the APC across the 255 political wards in the state unanimously affirmed Tinubu as the party’s presidential candidate.
The exercise, which took place simultaneously across the 23 LGAs of the state, drew large crowds of party members and stakeholders who turned out to endorse the President for a second term.
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission monitored the exercise alongside designated party officials to ensure compliance with laid-down electoral procedures.
Tinubu Emerges As APC Presidential Candidate
The Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, who monitored the process in parts of the state, commended party members for what he described as a peaceful, orderly, and transparent exercise.
In Plateau State,party members across the state queued to endorse the President as the party’s sole candidate.
At the Federal Government College, Jos, the venue for the Jos North LGA collation, APC members formed long queues from early morning, brandishing their voting slips, while similar scenes were reported in the Central and Southern zones.
The Chairman of Jos North LGA, J.K. Chris, said the turnout reflected a unified resolve to support the President.
Tinubu Emerges As APC Presidential Candidate
In Oyo, there was a massive turnout of registered members across the 351 wards in the 33 local government areas of the state, without violence, intimidation, or harassment.
The state coordinator and returning officer for the 2026 APC presidential primaries, Teslim Folarin, commended party members for participating in the exercise.
Also speaking after casting his vote at Ward 3 in Ibadan North LGA, the party governorship candidate in the state, Sharafadeen Alli, described the exercise as peaceful, transparent, and credible.
ADC May Opt For Direct Primaries If Consensus Failed-Oyegun
The Chairman of the 50-member ADC Policy and Manifesto Committee, John Oyegun, expressed a preference for a consensus arrangement to produce the party’s presidential candidate.
He warned that the party would proceed with direct primaries if aspirants failed to reach an agreement.
Oyegun,made the assertion during an interview with Punch on Saturday,amid growing contestation within the opposition party ahead of the presidential race.
“Consensus will save us valuable time. This would have been better for all of us, but if the aspirants fail to agree, we will follow what the law says.
Tinubu Emerges As APC Presidential Candidate
The law says where there is no agreement on consensus, we must conduct a direct primary. If that is what we have to do, we will do it,” he said
Amaechi, had repeatedly insisted he would not step down for any aspirant, stating that he was fully prepared for the contest.
“I am not stepping down for anyone. Let the people decide who they want to lead.” he stated
While Hayatu-Deen has adopted a less confrontational tone, he has also rejected calls to withdraw from the race.
Tinubu Emerges As APC Presidential Candidate
The businessman, however, pledged to support whoever emerges through what he described as a credible and transparent process.
Speaking on Channels TV Sunrise Daily,another chieftain of the ADC, Timothy Osadolor, urged Atiku to pursue negotiations that could lead to a consensus arrangement.
“No one is in doubt as to the capacity and competence of the Wazirin Adamawa in every party primary he has been engaged in,” Osadolor said.
“However, times have changed significantly, and perceptions have too. He will be making a mistake in thinking that Rotimi Amaechi can be wished away or run over in today’s politics or within the ADC” he said
Tinubu Emerges As APC Presidential Candidate
With all due respect to the very successful businessman, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, I think he will serve Nigeria more in the management of the country’s economy and drawing up policies in that regard. Atiku should consult, lobby, and work towards a consensus, either for himself or Amaechi,” he added.
