ABUJA, Nigeria (FN) — President Bola Tinubu has clinched the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket for the 2027 general election, securing 10,999,162 votes in the party’s first-ever nationwide direct primaries. His sole challenger, Stanley Osifo, polled 16,503 votes.
The Returning Officer, Pius Anyim, announced the results Sunday at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, declaring Tinubu the APC candidate after collation across all 8,809 wards. The exercise capped a week of primaries that included contests for legislative and governorship seats.
Tinubu, who received the party’s certificate of return and flag from APC chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, thanked members for their support. “I accept with profound humility and gratitude the nomination of our great party, the APC, to stand again as your presidential candidate in the 2027 election,” he said.
Reflecting on his three years in office, Tinubu acknowledged the pain of economic reforms but insisted they were necessary. He cited achievements such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, which he said has disbursed ₦282 billion to 1.5 million beneficiaries, and the Presidential Metering Initiative, which supplied 2.5 million meters nationwide. He also highlighted progress in power generation and debt settlement in the energy sector.
On security, Tinubu pledged intensified efforts, including investments in intelligence and surveillance, and urged the National Assembly to amend the Constitution to allow state police. “We will not rest until we restore peace and stability to every corner of our country,” he said.
Osifo, who accepted defeat, pledged to work with Tinubu and the APC to ensure victory in 2027. “We are one party, we are one family,” he said, dismissing suggestions that his candidacy was a challenge to the president.
The APC chairman, Yilwatda, described the primaries as proof of the party’s strength, saying the turnout demonstrated its growing appeal nationwide. He noted that reconciliation efforts were underway to address grievances from the primaries.
Reactions have been swift. On social media, APC supporters celebrated Tinubu’s overwhelming victory, calling it a show of unity. Critics, however, argued that the direct primary system favored incumbents and questioned whether it allowed genuine competition. Policy analysts said Tinubu’s call for state police could reshape Nigeria’s security architecture if pursued seriously.
Opinion leaders stressed that the primaries mark a turning point in Nigeria’s political process, with direct voting by millions of members seen as a test of grassroots democracy. The outcome sets the stage for a high-stakes contest in 2027, as Tinubu seeks reelection amid economic challenges and security concerns.
