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

Tinubu Sweeps Lagos, Borno Wards in Landslide Victory

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.