2027: President Tinubu Accepts APC Presidential Ticket, Vows to Deepen Reforms

ABUJA – President Bola Tinubu on Sunday officially accepted the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket for the 2027 elections, pledging to consolidate ongoing reforms, deepen national development, and push for the creation of state police as a matter of national emergency. Tinubu spoke in Abuja while delivering his acceptance speech after emerging as the APC presidential flagbearer for the 2027 general elections, where he polled 10,999,162 votes to defeat his sole challenger, Stanley Osifo, in the party’s nationwide direct primary election held on Saturday, May 23, 2026. The formal acceptance took place as party leaders, governors, National Working Committee members, and lawmakers gathered at the APC National Secretariat to affirm the President’s candidacy.

President Tinubu opened his acceptance speech by celebrating what he described as a proud moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey. “Today, we celebrate another proud moment in our democratic journey, a history not defined by any individual, but by our collective resolve,” he told the gathering. The President recalled how he emerged as the party’s candidate in 2022 and later became President with the support of party members and Nigerians. “Today, I return as your incumbent President, humbled by your enduring support and encouraged by your continued confidence,” Tinubu said. He emphasized that the task before the party was to sustain continuity, consolidate reforms, and strengthen the foundation of a modern Nigeria. “I accept, with humility and profound gratitude, the nomination of our great party, the APC, to stand again as its Presidential candidate,” he declared. The President thanked party leaders, governors, the National Working Committee, lawmakers, and members for sustaining the unity and strength of the APC.

President Tinubu also expressed gratitude to Nigerians for supporting what he described as the “difficult but necessary path of reform” embarked upon by his administration. He acknowledged that the reforms had brought temporary hardship but insisted they were essential for long-term national prosperity. The President’s acceptance followed earlier comments he made after casting his vote in the primary, where he 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.” Speaking at his ward in Ikoyi, Lagos, where he and his wife Oluremi Tinubu cast their votes, the President described the primary exercise as proof of the APC’s democratic credentials.

READ ALSO:

• Trump’s Reception of Ambassador Are Signals Stronger Nigeria–US Partnership
• APC Presidential Primary: Tinubu Polls 10,999,967 Votes, Floors Osifo Nationwide
• Nigerian Troops Deployed to Cotonou as Benin Republic Swears in President Wadagni

Highlighting his administration’s achievements in education, President Tinubu announced that the government had established the Nigerian Education Loan Fund to remove financial barriers to higher education for Nigerian youth. “We promised to remove the financial barriers to higher education for our youth. Today, we have established the Nigerian Education Loan Fund,” he said. According to the President, over N282 billion had been disbursed to more than 1.5 million beneficiaries under the student loan scheme, providing access to tertiary education for thousands of Nigerian students who would otherwise have been unable to afford it. The scheme represents one of the largest direct interventions in educational financing in Nigeria’s history.

On power reforms, President Tinubu detailed significant investments in the electricity sector, stating that the administration had supplied 2.5 million electricity meters and established a N4 trillion bond programme to settle legacy debts owed to Generation Companies (GENCOs) and Gas Companies (GASCOs). The Presidential Power Sector Debt Reduction Plan, approved by Tinubu and endorsed by the Federal Executive Council in August 2025, authorized the issuance of government-backed bonds to settle verified arrears. “Under our administration, power generation sometimes peaked at 6000MW, 50 per cent higher than we had inherited,” Tinubu said. Industry data confirms that Nigeria recorded a peak generation of 6,003MW on March 2, 2025 — the highest in the country’s history. The integration of the Zungeru Hydropower Plant, rehabilitation of thermal plants, and grid-strengthening efforts under the Presidential Power Initiative contributed to this achievement.

President Tinubu reiterated that his government had removed fuel subsidy, unified exchange rates, and initiated reforms to strengthen macroeconomic stability and investor confidence. He described the previous subsidy regime as “monumental corruption” and insisted that Nigeria now enjoys greater stability as a result of these difficult decisions. The administration has prioritized infrastructure projects in transportation, power, housing, irrigation, and digital connectivity to drive inclusive growth and industrialization. “We are building concrete, durable roads and superhighways along the coast and on the Sokoto-Badagry route that will last for over 100 years,” the President said. Tinubu acknowledged that many Nigerians still faced economic hardship and rising living costs but assured citizens that the government remained focused on delivering lasting solutions. His position has received backing from party leaders, with Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma — Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum — declaring that APC governors were united in support of Tinubu’s second term ambition.

READ ALSO:

• Usyk Defeats Verhoeven via Controversial Stoppage to Retain Heavyweight Titles
• Three Dead, 15 Kidnapped in Fresh Kwara Worship Centre Attack
• ICE Arrests Nigerian National in Los Angeles for Theft, Fraud; Faces Deportation

Addressing the country’s security challenges, President Tinubu assured Nigerians that his administration remained committed to restoring peace and strengthening national security architecture across the country. He urged the National Assembly to expedite constitutional amendments to allow the establishment of state police across the federation. “We also expect the National Assembly to amend the Constitution to allow the creation of State police as a matter of national emergency,” the President declared. This marks the latest in a series of calls by Tinubu for decentralized policing. Speaking during an interfaith breaking of fast with senators at the Presidential Villa in February 2026, Tinubu had stated that Nigeria is “extremely challenged” by terrorism, banditry, and insurgency, stressing that decentralized policing is needed to secure forests and protect citizens. In a subsequent meeting with members of the House of Representatives, Tinubu urged lawmakers to ensure that any constitutional amendment creating state police includes safeguards to prevent misuse by governors. Constitutional amendment would require approval by two-thirds of both chambers of the National Assembly and ratification by at least 24 state Houses of Assembly.

The President outlined his administration’s continued focus on industrialization, energy security, food sufficiency, infrastructure development, and democratic consolidation. “Our mission remains clear: To build a Nigeria where every life is secure, where enterprise thrives, and where young people find opportunity,” Tinubu said. He called for national unity and urged Nigerians across political, ethnic, and regional divides to work together for the country’s progress. Tinubu pledged to build a more inclusive government and continue serving Nigerians with sincerity, commitment, and renewed determination. “I pledge to build an even more inclusive government, one that listens, learns, and leads with the best interests of all Nigerians at heart,” the President said.

President Tinubu emerged as the winner of the APC presidential primary election with 10,999,162 votes across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, defeating his sole challenger, Stanley Osifo, who secured 16,504 votes nationwide. The results were drawn from direct primary elections conducted simultaneously across all 8,809 wards in the country on Saturday, May 23, 2026. According to state-by-state results, Tinubu’s strongest showing came from Lagos State, his political base, where he polled 814,988 votes — his highest single-state tally. Adamawa State delivered 644,149 votes, Kaduna State followed with 618,914 votes, Imo State gave him 582,960 votes, and Kano State, Nigeria’s most populous northern state, delivered 500,852 votes for the President. In Abia State, Tinubu secured 161,005 votes to defeat Osifo, who polled 1,007 votes — the highest secured by the challenger in any state. In Edo State, Osifo’s home state, the President polled 131,096 votes while the challenger managed just one vote. In Gombe State, Governor Inuwa Yahaya announced that out of 550,516 registered APC members, President Tinubu secured an overwhelming 450,516 votes, while Osifo recorded zero votes. In the Federal Capital Territory, Tinubu also secured substantial victories across all wards.

President Tinubu’s landslide victory in the APC presidential primary effectively clears the path for his re-election bid in the January 2027 general elections. With the ruling party presenting a united front behind the President, the opposition will now have to coalesce around a single candidate to mount a credible challenge. The President will now face off against candidates from opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) , Labour Party , and other opposition platforms, in what is expected to be a fiercely contested election. President Tinubu is expected to kick off his re-election campaign in the coming weeks, focusing on his administration’s achievements in infrastructure development, security sector reforms, economic transformation, and social investment programmes. As the APC prepares for the 2027 general election, party leaders have emphasized the need for unity and continued engagement with voters to explain the benefits of the administration’s reform agenda. The President will now proceed as the APC’s flag bearer for the January 16, 2027, presidential election, seeking a second and final term in office.

2027: President Tinubu Accepts APC Presidential Ticket, Vows to Deepen Reforms

APC Presidential Primary: Tinubu Polls 10,999,967 Votes, Floors Osifo Nationwide

ABUJA – President Bola Tinubu has emerged as the winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary election with 10,999,967 votes across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), beating his only challenger, Stanley Osifo, in a landslide victory that positions him as the ruling party’s flagbearer for the 2027 general elections. Online reports on Sunday revealed that Osifo secured 16,504 votes after the collation, which took place at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja. The results were drawn from direct primary elections conducted simultaneously across all 8,809 wards in the country on Saturday, May 23, 2026.

The All Progressives Congress adopted the direct primary system for its 2026 presidential primary election, paving the way for all registered party members nationwide to participate in selecting the party’s flagbearer for the January 2027 general elections. The exercise was held in each of the 8,809 wards across the country, with results collated at local government levels before transmission to state coordinators and ultimately to the national collation centre in Abuja. President Tinubu and his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, cast their votes at his ward in Ikoyi, Lagos State, joining millions of party members to exercise their franchise. After voting, the President 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.”

Per the figures, Tinubu’s strongest showing came from strategic states across the federation. Lagos State, the commercial capital and the President’s political base, delivered his highest single-state tally with 814,988 votes. This represents a massive endorsement from his home state, where Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu also participated in the primary exercise, describing the President as a leader who “has continued to demonstrate bold leadership through necessary reforms aimed at strengthening our electoral system, stabilising the polity and ultimately strengthening the economy.” Adamawa State recorded the President’s second-highest tally, where he secured 644,149 votes. Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, who served as the state collation officer for the exercise, declared President Tinubu the winner, noting that the exercise was conducted peacefully across all 21 local government areas of the state. The President’s opponent, Osifo Stanley, polled 195,049 votes in Adamawa. Kaduna State followed closely with 618,914 votes, where APC members unanimously endorsed Tinubu as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 elections across all 255 political wards in the 23 local government areas of the state. Imo State delivered 582,960 votes for the President, while Kano State, Nigeria’s most populous northern state, gave him 500,852 votes.

READ ALSO:

• Nigerian Troops Deployed to Cotonou as Benin Republic Swears in President Wadagni
• Usyk Defeats Verhoeven via Controversial Stoppage to Retain Heavyweight Titles

• Three Dead, 15 Kidnapped in Fresh Kwara Worship Centre Attack

In Gombe State, Governor Inuwa Yahaya, who served as the APC Presidential Primary Collation Officer for the state, announced that out of 550,516 registered APC members in the state, President Tinubu secured an overwhelming 450,516 votes, while Mr Stanley Osifo recorded zero votes. Governor Yahaya described the election as “peaceful, transparent, and a clear demonstration of the people’s confidence in the APC administration.” In Rivers State, the President scored 280,468 votes, while his opponent recorded zero votes in all councils announced. Obio/Akpor Local Government Area recorded the highest number of votes for Tinubu with 28,680 votes, followed by Port Harcourt City with 17,522 votes and Khana with 17,085 votes. In the Federal Capital Territory, results from the 12 wards of the Abuja Municipal Area Council showed Tinubu securing substantial votes. A breakdown from AMAC Zone B, comprising Kabusa, Wuse, Garki and the City Centre, showed 5,717 APC members voting for Tinubu, while Osifo Stanley received not a single vote across all 12 wards of AMAC. In Edo State, Osifo’s home state, the President performed strongly, further underscoring the overwhelming nature of his victory.

Stanley Osifo, a businessman and trader from Edo State, purchased the party’s N100 million presidential nomination forms to challenge the incumbent president. Despite his efforts, the nationwide primary results showed that the challenger failed to gain significant traction in any state, securing a total of 16,504 votes nationwide. His best performance came in Adamawa State, where he polled 195,049 votes — though this figure from some sources exceeds his official national tally, suggesting possible discrepancies in initial state-level reporting versus final collated figures. In contrast, Osifo recorded zero votes in multiple states, including Gombe, Rivers, and the FCT’s AMAC area, as well as in the President’s home ward in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The APC National Secretariat had earlier fixed Sunday, May 24, 2026, for the collation and official declaration of results from the presidential primary election. According to an invitation issued by the party’s National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, the exercise took place at the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja, with attendance limited to key stakeholders including members of the National Working Committee (NWC), National Caucus, National Executive Committee (NEC), serving APC lawmakers, members of the Federal Executive Council, diplomatic representatives, election observers, and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). President Tinubu himself commended the process, stating: “The APC remains focused, organised and deeply grounded across Nigeria. Others may gather around the grievance. We gather around structure, service, and the work of nation-building. Together, we will continue to renew hope, strengthen our democracy, and build a stronger Nigeria for all.”

President Tinubu’s landslide victory in the APC presidential primary effectively clears the path for his re-election bid in the January 2027 general elections. With the ruling party presenting a united front behind the President, the opposition will now have to coalesce around a single candidate to mount a credible challenge. The President will now face off against candidates from opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) , Labour Party , and other opposition platforms, in what is expected to be a fiercely contested election. Security analysts note that the APC’s decision to conduct a direct primary involving millions of party members nationwide has reinforced the party’s claim to democratic legitimacy ahead of the general election. President Tinubu is expected to kick off his re-election campaign in the coming weeks, focusing on his administration’s achievements in infrastructure development, security sector reforms, economic transformation, and social investment programmes. The President will now proceed as the APC’s flag bearer for the January 16, 2027, presidential election, seeking a second and final term in office.

APC Presidential Primary: Tinubu Polls 10,999,967 Votes, Floors Osifo Nationwide

APC Formally Unveils Tinubu as 2027 Presidential Candidate at ICC 

Abuja, Nigeria – The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially unveiled President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections at a grand ceremony held today, Sunday, May 24, 2026, at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja . The event marks the formal presentation of the party’s Certificate of Return and official flag to the President following his landslide victory in the APC presidential primary conducted on Saturday, May 23, 2026 – the first direct primary for a presidential ticket in the party’s history.

President Tinubu secured an overwhelming mandate after defeating his only challenger, Edo State businessman Stanley Osifo, in the historic direct primary conducted across all 8,809 wards in Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory . The exercise, mandated by the Electoral Act 2026 signed by President Tinubu in February, allowed every registered APC member to vote directly for their preferred candidate – a departure from the delegate system used in previous elections.

Official APC Presidential Primary Results: State-by-State Breakdown

Note: Results from the remaining 23 states and the Federal Capital Territory are still being collated. Early indications show President Tinubu secured approximately 99.9% of all votes cast nationwide, with Osifo recording zero votes in over 30 states .

READ ALSO:

• China Coal Mine Explosion Leaves at Least 82 Dead
• Celebrity Divorce Is More Visible, Not More Common — Temi Kosoko
• Troops Kill 12 Terrorists, Foil Attack on Military Base in Borno

The APC Presidential Primary Elections Committee, chaired by former Senate President Pius Anyim, formally presented the Certificate of Return and the party’s flag to President Tinubu in a well-attended ceremony at the ICC Abuja . The event drew the who’s who of the APC, including APC governors from across the 36 states, members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) , the National Working Committee (NWC) , National Assembly lawmakers – Senators and Reps members – party stalwarts and key stakeholders, as well as members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) . Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga confirmed that the ceremony effectively serves as the official kickoff of President Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign .

Speaking after receiving the certificate, President Tinubu thanked party members for their massive show of support and described the primary as “a demonstration of internal democracy” at its best. “This is grassroots politics where every member of the party has the right to participate. It shows that we have internal democracy and it’s peaceful and well organised,” the President said . He added, “The massive support I have received is a challenge for me to do more for the country. I do not take your trust for granted.” The President also praised state governors and party officials for ensuring proper accreditation, validation, membership registration, and electoral procedures across the nation. “I am very satisfied that Governors have done well in their various states, from the ward congresses to Local Government congresses to the delegate accreditation, validation, membership registration and the certification of the electoral process. It has been done very well, and with this, you could rate democracy at a high level,” Tinubu stated .

On Saturday, President Tinubu participated in the primary at his Ikoyi-Obalende Ward L2 in Lagos alongside the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu . They were received by a high-powered delegation including Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos State), Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi (Lagos APC Chairman), Dr. Jumoke Oduwole (Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment), Wale Edun (former Minister of Finance), and other party leaders . The President described the exercise in Lagos as peaceful, well-organised, and a true reflection of the people’s will .

The adoption of the direct primary method for the presidential ticket is significant for several reasons. First, it expanded participation dramatically, as millions of registered APC members voted directly, not just a few thousand delegates. Second, transparency was enhanced, with results collated at ward, local government, and state levels before national announcement. Third, this marked a historic first for the party, as no APC presidential primary had ever used direct voting across all 8,809 wards. Fourth, the process complied fully with the Electoral Act 2026 signed by President Tinubu himself. Despite the overwhelming victory, the primary was not without minor hitches – in some states, logistical challenges delayed the start of voting, while opposition parties have questioned the credibility of results where Osifo recorded zero votes .

Today’s formal unveiling positions the APC as the first major political party to officially present its presidential candidate for the 2027 election cycle. The early campaign start gives the APC a head start over opposition parties still conducting primaries. The landslide victory is being framed as a show of party cohesion behind Tinubu, sending a unity signal to the electorate. However, the opposition is watching closely – the PDP and Labour Party are yet to conclude their candidate selection processes. APC governors have largely lined up behind the President, reducing the risk of internal sabotage.

Despite the smooth primary, the APC faces headwinds heading into 2027. Economic concerns – including inflation, unemployment, and the cost-of-living crisis – remain top priorities for voters. Some party members who backed Osifo may feel marginalized, creating potential internal grievances. Additionally, talks of a mega opposition coalition continue behind the scenes, which could pose a significant challenge to the APC’s re-election bid.

Reactions from political stakeholders have been mixed. The APC National Working Committee, in a statement, described the primary as “a landmark moment for internal democracy in Nigeria” and congratulated President Tinubu on his victory . The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), however, dismissed the exercise as a “mere charade” and “pretense of democracy” . PDP spokesman Debo Ologunagba stated: “What happened yesterday was not an election but a coronation. Nigerians saw through it.” Civil society observers, including the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) and Yiaga Africa , have called for the release of full ward-level results for independent verification, noting that while the process was largely peaceful, transparency gaps remain .

APC Formally Unveils Tinubu as 2027 Presidential Candidate at ICC