Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has secured the presidential ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 general election after recording an overwhelming victory in the party’s nationwide primary election.

Results announced across several states showed Tinubu dominating the contest against his sole challenger, Stanley Osifo, with the incumbent winning by massive margins and, in many cases, securing all votes cast.

The primary election, conducted through the APC’s direct voting system, saw party members vote across wards and local government areas nationwide. Governors and senior party officials appointed as collation officers supervised the exercise, which party leaders described as largely peaceful and orderly.

In Rivers State, Tinubu polled 280,468 votes while Osifo received none across the state’s 23 local government areas, according to Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Similar outcomes emerged in several other states, highlighting the president’s dominant position within the ruling party.

In Edo State, Governor Monday Okpebholo announced that Tinubu secured 131,096 votes, while Osifo managed just one vote. Okpebholo described the process as peaceful and transparent.

Gombe State also delivered a decisive result for the incumbent, with Governor Muhammadu Yahaya announcing that Tinubu received 450,516 votes, while Osifo failed to secure any votes. Yahaya noted that the state had 550,516 registered APC members.

In Osun State, Tinubu recorded 100,880 votes, while his challenger recorded zero. Minister Adegboyega Oyetola, who served as the collation officer, said the large turnout demonstrated strong support for the president’s leadership and his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

A similar pattern emerged in Ebonyi State, where Governor Francis Nwifuru announced that Tinubu secured all 207,579 valid votes cast across the state’s 13 local government areas. Osifo did not receive any votes.

In Kwara State, Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq declared Tinubu the winner with 310,990 votes, while Osifo again failed to record any support. Of the 457,374 registered party members in the state, 310,990 were accredited to participate in the exercise.

Bayelsa State was one of the few states where Osifo registered votes, securing five votes against Tinubu’s 277,192. In Zamfara State, Tinubu received 321,579 votes while Osifo polled 42 votes.

Party officials in Kaduna and Imo states also reported strong support for the president.

In Imo State, Governor Hope Uzodimma argued that the turnout demonstrated the president’s popularity among APC members at the grassroots level. “If only our party members vote for President Tinubu, he has already won the election,” Mr Uzodimma stated, while commending the electronic membership registration and validation process.

In Bauchi State, APC presidential primary collation officer and Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, also declared Tinubu winner after he secured 156,541 votes against Osifo’s 2,650 votes.

According to Pate, 178,414 registered APC members were eligible to participate in the primary conducted across the state’s 20 local government areas.

“At the end of the direct primary election, Bola Tinubu received 156,541 votes, while the second candidate, Mr Stanley Osifo, received 2,650 votes. The total number of votes cast is 159,191. This is the result of the direct primaries conducted in Bauchi State for the presidential candidacy of the APC”
Ali Pate

Moreover, Pate used the occasion to call for unity within the APC, urging victorious candidates and their supporters to reach out to unsuccessful contestants and prevent divisions within the party ahead of the 2027 election campaign.

“Politics is about participation and competition. When you compete, you can win or you may not win. I have contested before — not once, not twice, not three times, four times and I was not successful in those elections.”
Ali Pate

He also encouraged those who did not secure nominations to remain committed to the party, arguing that public service extends beyond elected office.

Tinubu Hails APC Primary as Victory for Grassroots Democracy

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has praised the conduct of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary, describing the exercise as a successful demonstration of internal democracy and grassroots participation within the ruling party.

President Tinubu also expressed satisfaction with the organization of the primary, which was conducted simultaneously at the ward level nationwide.

“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-organised.”
Bola Ahmed Tinubu

The exercise ultimately delivered a resounding endorsement of the president’s bid to secure the APC ticket for the 2027 presidential election