APC Primary Ends in Landslide as Tinubu Crushes Rival Nationwide

President Bola Tinubu recorded a sweeping victory in the All Progressives Congress presidential primary election, defeating his only challenger, Stanley Osifo, by an overwhelming margin as party members across the country rallied behind his bid for a second term in office.

The exercise, held simultaneously in all 8,809 wards nationwide, became a show of strength for the President, with governors, party leaders, grassroots members, and key organs of the APC openly endorsing his candidacy ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Although Tinubu had already secured endorsements from the National Executive Committee, the National Working Committee, the Progressive Governors Forum, and several state chapters of the party, the APC still proceeded with the direct primary process to formally ratify him as its presidential flagbearer.

While the ruling party appeared united behind the President, the opposition African Democratic Congress continued to grapple with internal disagreements over its own presidential ticket.

Efforts by the ADC leadership to adopt a consensus arrangement reportedly suffered setbacks following disagreements among leading aspirants, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.

The opposition party is expected to conduct its presidential primary on Monday.

Tinubu hails direct primary process

President Tinubu, who cast his vote at Ward L2 in Ikoyi, Lagos, praised the exercise and described it as a practical reflection of democratic participation within the party.

Accompanied by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the President expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct of party members and officials across the country.

“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.”

The National Secretary of the APC, Ajibola Basiru, also commended party members for the orderly conduct of the exercise, noting that results from across the federation indicated a massive victory for the President.

“Party members were happy to go out and vote for the aspirant of their choice. Results have been collated in all the 774 wards and also across the 36 states and the FCT. Some are still doing their state collation now, as we speak. And tomorrow (today) at the ICC, the state coordinator and collation officers will present the results before the presidential primary election committee. I know that from what I have seen so far in terms of images, it’s going to be a landslide victory for President Bola Tinubu. But we’ll wait till the collation is done.”

States deliver massive votes

In Kaduna State, APC members across the 255 political wards unanimously endorsed Tinubu’s candidacy in an exercise monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission and party representatives.

Governor Uba Sani, who monitored parts of the process, praised party members for what he called a peaceful and transparent exercise.

In Kebbi State, Tinubu secured 5,652 votes in Governor Nasir Idris’s Nassarawa II Ward in Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area.

Announcing the result, the state APC chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Kana-Zuru, commended party members for their orderly conduct throughout the process.

Bayelsa State also delivered a near-total victory for the President, with Tinubu polling 277,192 votes while Osifo secured only five votes statewide.

Governor Douye Diri, who announced the result after collation from all local government areas, said the process complied with party guidelines and was conducted peacefully.

“I hereby certify that the results announced represent the true, correct, and accurate collation of votes from all local government areas in Bayelsa State. The process was conducted peacefully and in accordance with party guidelines.”

In Abia State, former governor and senator representing Abia North, Orji Kalu, led thousands of party members in support of the President during the exercise held at Igbere Ward A in Bende Local Government Area.

At Bende, hometown of Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, more than 13,000 APC members reportedly lined up to vote for Tinubu under the direct primary system, while Osifo failed to secure any vote.

Plateau State also witnessed heavy participation by party faithful, with large crowds gathering at various collation centres to affirm Tinubu as the party’s sole presidential candidate.

The Chairman of Jos North Local Government Area, J.K. Chris, described the turnout as evidence of unity within the party.

In Oyo State, APC members turned out across all 351 wards and 33 local government areas to participate in the exercise without reports of violence or intimidation.

The state coordinator and returning officer for the APC presidential primary, Teslim Folarin, commended members for the peaceful conduct of the process.

Similarly, the APC governorship candidate in the state, Sharafadeen Alli, described the exercise as credible and transparent after casting his vote in Ibadan North Local Government Area.

In Edo State, Governor Monday Okpebholo, who served as returning officer for the exercise, announced that Tinubu secured 131,096 votes while Osifo polled just one vote.

Results from the 18 local government areas were collated at the APC secretariat in Ikpoba Hill, Benin City.

Osun State also delivered a clean sweep for the President, who secured 100,880 votes across the state’s 332 wards, while Osifo recorded no vote.

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, who acted as state collation officer, described the exercise as peaceful while announcing the outcome in Osogbo.

In Rivers State, Tinubu polled all valid votes cast during the exercise.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara disclosed that the President secured 280,082 votes, while Osifo failed to record any vote across the state.

According to him, the process was peaceful and transparent in all 23 local government areas, adding that he personally verified the figures before certifying the final results.

Gombe State equally delivered an overwhelming endorsement for the President, with Tinubu polling 450,517 votes against Osifo’s zero.

Governor Muhammadu Yahaya said the outcome reflected the unwavering support of APC members in the state for Tinubu and the ruling party ahead of the next general election.