Politics

APC Primary: Tinubu Sweeps Lagos, Borno Wards in Landslide Victory

Published

5 months ago

May 23, 2026

APC Primary: Tinubu Sweeps Lagos, Borno Wards in Landslide Victory

President Bola Tinubu on Saturday secured a decisive victory in the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary held in Ward L2, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, polling 4,996 votes to overwhelmingly defeat his sole challenger, businessman Sterlyn Osifo . The exercise, conducted under the APC’s direct primary system adopted for the 2027 presidential race, allowed party members across the nation’s 8,809 wards to participate in selecting the ruling party’s flagbearer for the upcoming general election . President Tinubu, who is seeking re-election ahead of the 2027 polls, arrived at the polling centre at Ireti Nursery and Primary School on Mekwen Street, off Queens Drive, Ikoyi, at approximately 11:34 a.m., accompanied by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu amid tight security, with the accreditation process having commenced at 10:45 a.m. and ended at 11:15 a.m. before the President joined the queue to be counted alongside other party members .

The ward returning officer, Martha Adikwu , announced that out of 5,163 registered party members in the ward, Tinubu secured 4,996 votes, while his challenger, Sterlyn Osifo, recorded zero votes . Adikwu noted that when she called for the agents of the two aspirants, only the agent of President Tinubu was present at the ward, further confirming the overwhelming support for the incumbent. Earlier, the Lagos State APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi , addressed party members, praising the high turnout and assuring them that the party and the President would not disappoint them. “You are here to exercise your franchise to elect the candidate of your choice to fly the party’s flag in the 2027 presidential elections. We must be orderly and do it in such a way that the people of Nigeria will know that this is the best organised party as far as the Federal Republic is concerned,” Ojelabi said, adding that “the rewards of your loyalty to the party will yield benefits in due course” .

President Tinubu also emerged victorious at Ward D3 on Lagos Island , where Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu cast his vote, securing 1,887 votes in the primary election. Governor Sanwo-Olu, who voted alongside his wife, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, and other state officials, commended party members for the peaceful conduct and impressive turnout recorded during the exercise. “I commend the 1,887 votes recorded for President Bola Tinubu. The process has been peaceful and orderly. I thank party members for their patience and support for the APC and our leader,” the governor said after voting . Top APC leaders present at the Lagos exercise included former Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance Wale Edun , APC Lagos State Chairman Cornelius Ojelabi , party chieftain Kola Peregrino , and Chief Returning Officers for the Presidential Election as well as members of the Local Organising Committee for the primary, led by the Secretary, Adekunle Olayinka.

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Speaking with journalists after casting his vote, President Tinubu commended APC governors for conducting peaceful, transparent, and well-organised primaries across the country, noting that reports reaching him from across the party chapters showed that the exercise was going smoothly nationwide. “Today I am very satisfied. The governors have done well in their states. From the ward congresses to the local government congresses, delegates’ accreditation, validation, membership register, and certification of the electoral process, they have done well,” Tinubu said, adding that “this is grassroots politics where every member of the party has the right to participate and be involved” . The President expressed delight at the massive support from party members, stating: “I’m excited with the massive support today; they’ve challenged me to do more” .

In a significant development that underscores the President’s nationwide appeal, Tinubu also recorded a clean sweep in Mafa Ward, Borno State – the home ward of Governor Babagana Zulum . The direct primary was held at Mafa Central Primary School and presided over by the Chairperson of the Presidential Primary Election Committee, Hajiya Inna Alkali Imam. Tinubu polled 2,175 votes , representing all valid votes cast in the ward, while his challenger, Stanley Osifo, again scored zero votes. Mafa Ward has 2,277 registered APC members, with 2,175 members accredited for the exercise . Governor Zulum, who serves as the Coordinator and Collation Officer for the presidential primary in Borno State, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the primary and the turnout of party members. “I am from Mafa Ward, and that is why I am here to witness and participate in the exercise. We have two candidates, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Mr Stanley Osifo. So far so good, we have conducted the presidential primary election for Mafa ward, and I am very impressed with the turnout. We have a total of about 2,277 registered party members in Mafa ward, out of which 2,175 were accredited for the voting, and all of them voted for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while the other candidate scored zero,” Zulum said .

Similarly, in Katsina State , Governor Dikko Radda expressed confidence that President Tinubu and candidates of the APC will emerge victorious in the 2027 general elections. Governor Radda stated this after casting his vote in Radda town, Charanchi Local Government Area, describing the large turnout of party supporters as “a reflection of Nigerians’ confidence in the APC-led administration and the strength of democracy.” According to him, “every APC member was given the opportunity to participate freely in the process of electing the party’s presidential candidate” . Former Katsina State Governor Ibrahim Shema also described the turnout of APC supporters during the presidential primary as encouraging, speaking after casting his vote in Dutsin-Ma and commending the peaceful conduct of the affirmation and direct voting process across the country, particularly in Katsina State. The former governor noted that improvements in Nigeria’s electoral process, especially amendments to the Electoral Act, had strengthened internal democracy and transparency within political parties.

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In Ogun State , former Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun participated in the APC presidential primary election in his ward, reaffirming his support for President Tinubu and describing the exercise as a demonstration of unity within the ruling party . “Today is very special. Today is for the President, and we all must come out to show and demonstrate that we are for the President and for APC,” Amosun said . “Every ward in Nigeria is doing this, and we have to come and participate and do our bit too. I am happy with our people. You can see they are very excited and eager to be part of what is going on.” Amosun added that there is no dissension within the party, stating: “Everybody agreed that we want our President to continue” .

The APC adopted the direct primary model for the 2027 presidential race, a departure from the delegate system used in previous elections. This approach allows party members across the country’s 8,809 wards to participate directly in the selection of the party’s candidate. The exercise is being contested by the incumbent President and businessman Sterlyn Osifo, an APC chieftain from Edo State . The schedule of the primaries as released by the APC indicated that the exercise was to commence with House of Representatives elections, but it was later shifted due to disagreements over the method to adopt in carrying out the exercise. Many aspirants who lost have been “gnashing their teeth,” according to reports, while those who won have been jubilating, with the past week producing “big winners and unexpected losers” across various levels of the primaries .

Voting commenced across APC wards nationwide on Saturday morning, with party officials, supporters, and security personnel monitoring the process. President Tinubu praised the conduct of the exercise, noting that the reports reaching him nationwide showed that the primaries were peaceful and reflected proper grassroots participation and internal democracy within the ruling party . The presidential primary is continuing across the country, with final results expected to be announced by the party at a later date. As the APC prepares for the 2027 general election, President Tinubu’s commanding performance in the direct primary across multiple states signals strong party support for his second-term ambition, setting the stage for what promises to be a highly competitive election season.

APC Primary: Tinubu Sweeps Lagos, Borno Wards in Landslide Victory

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2027: Ajaero Questions Tinubu, Atiku, Obi’s Economic Approach, Highlights Adebayo’s Ideas

Published

18 hours ago

October 5, 2026

Trends Admin

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero

2027: Ajaero Questions Tinubu, Atiku, Obi’s Economic Approach, Highlights Adebayo’s Ideas

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has questioned the economic positions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, while saying the ideas of Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo deserve serious attention ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Ajaero made the comments during an interview with Seun Okinbaloye on Mic On, where he was asked about the economic policies of Atiku and other leading figures in the 2027 race.

Rather than focusing solely on Atiku’s economic proposals, the NLC president highlighted the positions of Adebayo and Accord Party presidential candidate Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, saying he had examined their ideas and was willing to listen to them.

“I have looked at Gbenga Hashim’s position and I think he’s an expert to an extent. I also looked at Adebayo. I may listen to them,” Ajaero said.

He subsequently contrasted the economic approaches of Adebayo and Olawepo-Hashim with those of Tinubu, Atiku and Obi.

“Peter Obi, Atiku and Asiwaju, they all have the same position and they have shown that they are market people from far right,” he said.

Ajaero’s remarks have drawn attention to the economic debate ahead of the 2027 election, particularly as issues such as inflation, fuel prices, electricity costs, unemployment, wages and declining purchasing power remain major concerns for Nigerians.

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Adebayo, who is contesting the 2027 presidency on the SDP platform, has built his campaign around social democracy, increased domestic production, job creation and a stronger role for government in providing public services and expanding economic opportunities.

The SDP candidate has also made energy reform a major part of his campaign, arguing that high energy costs and inadequate electricity supply continue to constrain households, businesses and industrial production.

His policy blueprint, Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity: Governance & Accelerated Development — Blueprint of a New Nigeria, 2027–2031, proposes mechanisms for monitoring government performance through measurable targets, periodic assessments and implementation milestones.

Adebayo has also advocated greater emphasis on domestic production, with the argument that Nigeria must reduce its dependence on imports and foreign exchange while strengthening local industries and productive capacity.

Olawepo-Hashim, whom Ajaero also mentioned, has similarly made energy and industrialisation central to his economic programme. His proposed Energy First agenda focuses on increasing domestic energy production, expanding refining capacity and reducing energy costs.

Ajaero’s comments do not amount to a formal endorsement of Adebayo or Olawepo-Hashim for the 2027 presidential election. Rather, the NLC president said their economic proposals were sufficiently different from those of the politicians he discussed to warrant further engagement.

The intervention comes as political parties and presidential candidates increasingly position their economic policies at the centre of the 2027 campaign, with competing proposals on fuel pricing, taxation, electricity, wages, industrialisation, employment and social protection.

For the NLC, which represents organised labour and has been at the forefront of debates over wages and the impact of economic reforms on workers, the direction of the next administration’s economic policy is expected to remain a major issue ahead of the election.

With the 2027 political contest gathering momentum, the competing economic visions of the presidential candidates are likely to face increased scrutiny from organised labour, businesses and voters as parties intensify their campaigns.

2027: Ajaero Questions Tinubu, Atiku, Obi’s Economic Approach, Highlights Adebayo’s Ideas

Politics

2027: Soludo Govt Accuses Peter Obi Of Plot To Destroy APGA

Published

23 hours ago

October 5, 2026

Trends Admin

2027: Soludo Govt Accuses Peter Obi Of Plot To Destroy APGA

The Anambra State Government has declared former governor Peter Obi and his Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) a threat to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) ahead of the 2027 presidential election, urging APGA supporters to resist the opposition party.

The state government made the declaration in a message issued through its New Media office on Monday, accusing Obi of working to weaken the party that gave him the platform to become governor of Anambra.

The government described its message as a “betrayal alert” to APGA supporters, alleging that Obi had been seeking to undermine the party since leaving it in 2014.

It urged party members in the state not to be swayed by Obi’s current political influence, arguing that APGA remained the political platform responsible for his emergence as governor.

The government said, “Since 2014, Obi has had one mission: to destroy the party that made him,” while calling on APGA members to defend the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

The development comes amid an increasingly tense political relationship between Obi and the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

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Obi governed Anambra from 2006 to 2014 on the APGA platform before leaving the party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He later joined the Labour Party, under which he contested the 2023 presidential election, before becoming the presidential candidate of the NDC ahead of the 2027 election.

The former governor remains an influential political figure in the South-East, particularly in Anambra, where his 2023 presidential campaign recorded strong support.

The Anambra government’s latest position also comes against the backdrop of APGA’s alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The state government has previously defended its relationship with the President and maintained that supporting Tinubu does not conflict with APGA’s interests.

However, Obi’s emergence as the NDC presidential candidate has created a new political challenge for APGA, particularly because of his longstanding influence among voters in Anambra and the wider South-East.

The NDC has rejected the allegations against Obi, accusing the Soludo administration of attacking the former governor because of concerns about his popularity.

NDC Director of New Media and Strategic Communications, Theo Abu Agada, described the state government’s position as political blackmail and maintained that the party was confident of its prospects in the 2027 election.

The latest exchange has further widened the political divide between the camps of Peter Obi and Chukwuma Soludo, with both sides increasingly positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.

For APGA, the emergence of Obi and the NDC presents a particularly sensitive political challenge because of the former governor’s history with the party and his continued influence in Anambra.

The 2027 election is therefore expected to produce a major political contest in the state, with APGA seeking to retain its influence while Obi’s NDC attempts to convert his personal support base into wider electoral backing.

2027: Soludo Govt Accuses Peter Obi Of Plot To Destroy APGA

Politics

Nine Zamfara Lawmakers Dump APC for ADC Ahead of 2027

Published

1 day ago

October 5, 2026

Trends Admin

Nine Zamfara Lawmakers Dump APC for ADC Ahead of 2027

Nine members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have left the All Progressives Congress (APC) and defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The lawmakers cited concerns over insecurity, internal party divisions and what they described as inadequate attention to the welfare of residents and their constituents as reasons for their decision.

The lawmakers are Aliyu Ango Kagara, representing Talata Mafara South; Muktar Nasir, representing Kaura Namoda North; Faruk Dosara Musa, representing Maradun I; Basiru Bello, representing Bungudu West; Bashir A. Masama, representing Bukkuyum North; Ibrahim T. Tukur, representing Bakura; Nasiru Abdullahi, representing Maru North; Yusuf Muhammad Anka, representing Anka; and Bashar Aliyu, representing Gummi I.

Speaking on behalf of the lawmakers, Kagara said their concerns about the security situation in Zamfara had contributed to disagreements with the state government.

He said the lawmakers had raised the issue of insecurity on the floor of the Assembly, but that their position led to disagreements with Governor Dauda Lawal and their subsequent suspension.

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Kagara also alleged that joining the APC did not resolve their grievances, claiming that some party leaders failed to give them what they considered a fair hearing.

Earlier, some of the lawmakers announced their resignation from the APC in separate letters dated October 4, 2026.

In the letters, the lawmakers cited issues including insecurity, alleged injustice, internal divisions, uncertainty and concerns about governance.

One of the lawmakers also alleged that members of the Assembly had gone about 32 months without receiving salaries, allowances and other entitlements.

The claims about unpaid entitlements and other grievances are allegations by the affected lawmakers and have not been independently established in the reports.

The APC in Zamfara initially said it had not received official copies of the resignation letters. The party’s publicity secretary, Ibrahim Birnin-Magaji, said the documents had been seen on social media and that the party was awaiting formal communication through the appropriate party structures.

The defection represents a significant political realignment in Zamfara ahead of the 2027 elections, with the movement of the lawmakers potentially affecting the political balance within the state legislature.