2027: President Tinubu Accepts APC Presidential Ticket, Vows to Deepen Reforms - Newstrends
Connect with us

Politics

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

Published

3 months ago

on

Tinubu Vows to Secure Nigeria, Declares Unity Non-Negotiable Amid Worsening Insecurity
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

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:

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:

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

Loading

Related Topics:
Advertisement

Politics

“Close Your Mouth”: Amaechi, Sowore, Obi Clash Over Fuel Subsidy in Heated NBA Debate

Published

4 hours ago

on

August 25, 2026

By

"Close Your Mouth": Amaechi, Sowore, Obi Clash Over Fuel Subsidy in Heated NBA Debate
Peter Obi, Omoyele Sowore and Rorimi Amaechi

“Close Your Mouth”: Amaechi, Sowore, Obi Clash Over Fuel Subsidy in Heated NBA Debate

The 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, turned into a fiery political battleground on Monday as three prominent political figures engaged in a heated exchange over fuel subsidy removal, governance records, and Nigeria’s political future ahead of the 2027 elections. The panel session, which was one of the major highlights of the conference themed “Beyond Limits,” brought together presidential hopefuls including Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC), Rotimi Amaechi, Vice Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), who offered competing solutions to Nigeria’s worsening economic and governance challenges. What began as a policy debate quickly escalated into shouting matches, personal attacks, and sharp exchanges as the politicians traded barbs over their records in public office.

Omoyele Sowore, the AAC presidential candidate, opened the debate by asserting his long-standing opposition to fuel subsidy removal, accusing past and present leaders of shifting positions at the expense of ordinary Nigerians. “If there’s anyone who has been consistent about non-removal of fuel subsidy, it has been me. And it took Amaechi and his principal almost 10 years to catch up with me. They have now reversed their position on fuel subsidy,” Sowore declared. Sowore challenged the economic justification for the policy, arguing that the real beneficiaries of subsidy removal were political elites and state governors rather than the masses. “The question about subsidy is, who are you subsidising? You are subsidising the elite. You are subsidising the governors. The only people who are doing well since they removed subsidy are the governors of states,” he said. He also rejected the impression that subsidy removal was a new policy, recalling that previous administrations had removed or attempted to remove subsidies while promising Nigerians better economic conditions. “I was a student in 1989, they removed subsidy. In 1990, they removed subsidy. They said Nigeria will be better. We are in 2026, they are still removing subsidy,” Sowore said. Referencing an earlier comment by Amaechi, Sowore noted: “I love one thing that Amaechi said. He said, apart from Sowore and Adebayo, the rest of us have been in government and we have failed. They have no business coming back. You guys should be apologising to the Nigerian people.”

READ ALSO:

A visibly frustrated Amaechi quickly interjected, cutting Sowore off mid-sentence to refute the characterization of his remarks. “Stop lying. Stop lying, Sowore. I said, judge us by our achievements,” Amaechi fired back. Unfazed by the interruption, Sowore turned his sights directly to Amaechi’s record as a former governor of Rivers State and former Minister of Transportation. “When it comes to subsidy, right? Transportation policy is important. We have a former governor of Rivers State here, Amaechi, who built a rail line that went nowhere. If that rail line was working, subsidy would have been working for the people of Rivers State,” Sowore argued. Responding, Amaechi defended his record as governor and as former Minister, highlighting his administration’s construction of roads, primary schools, and major rail projects like the Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja-Kaduna railways. The ADC vice-presidential candidate quipped: “Where are Rivers lawyers? Let them take Sowore around and show him what I did as a former Governor.” Amaechi asked lawyers from Lagos, Ogun, and Kaduna states to confirm if the railway systems were still working in their states, noting that the Lagos-Ibadan railway was operational during his tenure and questioning why it was not working under President Bola Tinubu. When Sowore interjected again, Amaechi lost his cool and declared: “Moreover, Sowore, when politicians are talking, close your mouth.”

Turning his criticism to Peter Obi, Sowore alleged that Obi had failed to subsidise education during his tenure as Anambra State governor. “Peter Obi did not subsidise education in his state. Lecturers and doctors went on strike for 13 months. You may like him as a person, but he did not perform as a governor. That is the truth,” Amaechi said. Amaechi also argued that transportation policy should form part of the conversation around fuel subsidy, and he defended his own record as Minister of Transportation, saying the Lagos-Ajaokuta railway was operational during his tenure. He also used the opportunity to issue a broader challenge to Nigerians, urging voters to judge politicians by competence rather than ethnic or sectional loyalties. “A coalition should be based on performance. And I speak to you, you should do a referendum. We have all served in government. Atiku has served in government, Peter Obi has served in government, I have served in government and others. Assess us by our last performance and choose,” he said. He warned that Nigeria would continue to struggle with underdevelopment if Nigerians continued to vote along ethnic lines without considering the past performance of candidates. “Don’t just go because you are from Ikwerre or you are from Omoku and choose your own. No! That’s why we are running down,” Amaechi said.

READ ALSO:

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), defended the necessity of removing fuel subsidy, maintaining that while he supports the policy, his administration would have executed it differently to directly benefit citizens. “I subscribe and I maintain that you need to remove subsidy. Mismanagement of the proceeds should not be the reason for not removing it,” Obi said. Obi argued that the problem was not the policy itself but the failure of government to properly utilise the resources saved from it. “What we should have done is that when we remove subsidy, we would have given the people alternative usage for the subsidy. What we have today is that that removal and the attendant resources being recovered are also being mismanaged and stolen,” he said. Citing reported savings of approximately N16 trillion from the subsidy removal, Obi noted that just five per cent of that amount—about N800 billion—could be used to build primary healthcare centres across all 8,809 wards in Nigeria. He also suggested that the savings could have been added to Nigeria’s sovereign wealth fund to generate long-term returns. “If they had saved the money and decided to do like any other country, we would have had $10 billion added to the sovereign wealth fund, which, if you add it today, we will be getting about $10 billion every month, which we can use for a purpose,” Obi said. Obi also emphasised that a Nigerian economy driven by production rather than consumption would work wonders for the country. “Nigeria is poor today because it is not a productive country. Some of us might not be aware that two years ago, Ukraine, which is at war, gave us grain. We are hungry today because Nigeria is not a productive country,” he said.

The drama took an interesting turn when a young lawyer at the conference challenged Amaechi’s reported claim that Sowore could not win a presidential election, arguing that opposition politicians should unite and suggesting that Peter Obi remains the most popular among the contenders. The intervention highlighted the growing appetite among Nigerians for a coalition of opposition forces ahead of the 2027 elections. The NBA conference thus provided one of the earliest major platforms for 2027 presidential hopefuls to publicly test their competing positions on governance, economic management, and accountability, setting the stage for a potentially intense political contest ahead of the general elections. The clash over fuel subsidy—a policy that has significantly impacted the cost of living for millions of Nigerians—remains a central dividing line among the candidates, with Sowore opposing it outright, Obi supporting it but criticising its implementation, and Amaechi arguing for accountability and performance-based governance.

“Close Your Mouth”: Amaechi, Sowore, Obi Clash Over Fuel Subsidy in Heated NBA Debate

Loading

Continue Reading

Politics

Peter Obi Backs Subsidy Removal, Blames Poor Governance for N16 Trillion Waste

Published

4 hours ago

on

August 25, 2026

By

Peter Obi Backs Subsidy Removal, Blames Poor Governance for N16 Trillion Waste
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) , Peter Obi

Peter Obi Backs Subsidy Removal, Blames Poor Governance for N16 Trillion Waste

The debate over Nigeria’s fuel subsidy removal has taken a new turn, with former Anambra State governor and 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi firmly restating his support for the policy. Speaking at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt on Monday, Obi argued that mismanagement of subsidy proceeds should not be a reason to reverse the policy. Instead, he called for transparency and accountability in the use of the billions of naira saved from the reform. Obi, who now runs under the banner of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), made it clear that his opposition is not to the removal itself but to the lack of structured implementation and the failure to cushion the economic impact on ordinary Nigerians. His position puts him at odds with fellow opposition figure Atiku Abubakar, who has promised to bring back the subsidy if elected in 2027.

According to Obi, the removal of petrol subsidy was a necessary fiscal decision that his own 2023 presidential manifesto had already proposed. He maintained that keeping the subsidy would only perpetuate waste and delay critical national development. “I subscribe and I maintain that you need to remove subsidy. Mismanagement of the proceeds shouldn’t be the reason for not removing it,” Obi was quoted as saying during the panel session. He stressed that reversing the policy would be a backward step that treats the symptom rather than the disease. The real issue, he argued, is not the removal itself but the poor governance and lack of transparency that have characterised the handling of the funds generated from the policy.

READ ALSO:

Obi expressed concern that the N16 trillion reportedly realised from the subsidy removal has not been visibly channelled into projects that improve the lives of Nigerians. He alleged that these resources are being mismanaged and, in some cases, stolen, while citizens bear the brunt of rising fuel prices, high transportation costs, and a general increase in the cost of living. “What we should have done is that when we removed the subsidy, we would have given the people alternative usage for the subsidy. What we have today is that that removal and the attendant resources being recovered is also being mismanaged and stolen,” Obi said. He argued that the government should have implemented the policy in a structured manner, with clear plans for reinvesting the savings into productive sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and poverty alleviation.

To illustrate his point, Obi offered practical examples of how the funds could have been better utilised. He noted that just 5% of the N16 trillion savings—about N800 billion—would be enough to build primary healthcare centres in all 8,809 wards across Nigeria, with each facility costing an estimated N100 million. He also highlighted the acute shortage of kidney treatment facilities in the country, pointing out that Nigeria needs about 1,000 kidney centres and 5,000 dialysis machines, but currently has fewer than 200 centres and 800 machines. A kidney centre costs about N200 million, while a single dialysis machine goes for roughly N10 million. Beyond healthcare, Obi suggested that the government could have added the savings to Nigeria’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, which would have grown by an estimated $10 billion. This, he said, could generate monthly returns that could be used for national development.

The former governor also took a swipe at the luxurious lifestyle of public officials, contrasting it with the hardship faced by everyday Nigerians. “People in government have asked Nigerians to fast. Okay. They cannot be feasting when Nigerians are fasting,” Obi said. He urged the government to lead by example and ensure that the sacrifices made by citizens are matched by prudent management of public funds. According to him, the solution lies not in restoring the subsidy but in strengthening institutions, accountability, and governance to ensure that the benefits of the policy are felt by all.

Obi’s comments come at a time when the economic consequences of subsidy removal continue to dominate public discourse. While the Federal Government has defended the policy as fiscally unsustainable and necessary for long-term growth, critics have demanded greater transparency over the use of the savings, especially as inflation and living costs continue to rise. As Obi positions himself for the 2027 general elections, his messaging is increasingly centred on economic management, fiscal discipline, and the prudent use of public resources. His latest intervention reinforces his stance that Nigeria must move forward—not backward—by fixing governance failures rather than abandoning difficult but necessary reforms.

Peter Obi Backs Subsidy Removal, Blames Poor Governance for N16 Trillion Waste

Loading

Continue Reading

Politics

5,000 Zamfara Quran Reciters Hold Special Prayers for Tinubu/Shettima 2027 Re-election

Published

20 hours ago

on

August 24, 2026

By

5000 Zamfara Quran Reciters Hold Special Prayers for Tinubu-Shettima 2027 Re-election

5,000 Zamfara Quran Reciters Hold Special Prayers for Tinubu/Shettima 2027 Re-election

Islamic scholars and students from across Zamfara State gathered in Gusau for a mass Qur’anic recitation and prayer session, seeking divine blessings for President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and Senator Abdulaziz Yari ahead of the 2027 general elections.

ZAMFARA STATE, Nigeria – About 5,000 Quranic reciters from across Zamfara State gathered on Sunday in Gusau, the state capital, to offer special prayers for the success of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of the 2027 general elections. The prayer session, organised by the United Youth Scholars for Preaching and Guidance, drew participants from over 250 Islamic schools across the 14 local government areas of Zamfara State. The event held at Maryam Mohammed Hall in Gusau included mass Qur’anic recitations and special supplications for peace, stability, and political success in Nigeria.

The special prayers were also dedicated to Senator Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar, following his recent appointment by President Tinubu as Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election. Speaking at the event, the chairman of the association, Mallam Naziru Ibrahim Buda, disclosed that the gathering was aimed at seeking Allah’s blessings for the success of President Tinubu and the APC campaign council led by Senator Yari. He noted that members of the association had resolved to support the Tinubu administration following Yari’s appointment, setting aside any previous grievances. Buda emphasised that the initiative was not a response to current political developments alone, noting that the association has a long-standing tradition of organising Qur’anic recitation and special prayers every two months. However, he added that members had resolved to intensify their prayers for Tinubu and Yari following the appointment.

READ ALSO:

The Islamic scholars also highlighted Senator Yari’s philanthropic gestures towards vulnerable people across the state, describing him as a longstanding supporter of Islamic organisations and Qur’anic education initiatives. According to Malam Hadi Suleiman, a former state Director of Tajweed, Yari’s contributions to Qur’anic education include the donation of 70 cars and 70 Hajj seats to competition winners, in addition to his support for orphans and vulnerable people.

Senator Yari, who was represented at the event by Hon. Aminu Adamu Dankwangila, expressed appreciation to the gathering for their support. Dankwangila prayed that President Tinubu, by the grace of Almighty God, would easily return for a second term in office, citing the administration’s efforts to restore peace and change the nation’s economic fortunes. Earlier, Senator Yari, speaking to journalists at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja after arriving from an overseas trip, expressed confidence that President Tinubu would secure a second term in office, declaring: “By God’s grace, he shall be the president come 2027”. The former Zamfara governor assured Nigerians that the APC would fulfill the promises it made during the 2023 election campaign.

Buda further disclosed that the group would soon commence grassroots mobilisation across communities, urging members and Islamic schools to continue praying for the success of the campaign council and peace in Zamfara and Nigeria. The association’s vice chairman, Malam Hadi Aminu, also called on Governor Dauda Lawal to appoint Hon. Abdulmalik Zubairu Zannah, who represents Maru/Bungudu Federal Constituency, as head of the state’s campaign team, citing confidence in Yari’s ability to deliver Zamfara for the Tinubu campaign.

5,000 Zamfara Quran Reciters Hold Special Prayers for Tinubu/Shettima 2027 Re-election

Loading

Continue Reading

Trending