President Bola Tinubu has recorded dominant victories in early results from the presidential primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), held across Nigeria’s 8,809 wards ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Tinubu faced businessman and party member Stanley Osifo Osayamen, who emerged as his sole challenger after reported consensus negotiations within the ruling party failed to produce a unanimous endorsement.
Osayamen had reportedly purchased the APC presidential nomination form valued at ₦100 million, signaling his determination to contest despite the overwhelming support already mobilized behind the incumbent president.
Early ward-level tallies showed Tinubu securing near-total victories in several locations across the country.
In his Ikoyi ward in Lagos State, the president reportedly polled 4,996 votes while his challenger received none.
Similar results also emerged from parts of Kebbi State, where reports indicated Tinubu secured thousands of votes in units where senior party officials and supporters queued publicly during the direct voting process.
Supporters of the president described the outcome as evidence of strong internal unity within the APC and growing confidence in Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda ahead of the 2027 election cycle.
Party loyalists celebrated the large turnout and decisive margins as proof that the APC remains firmly united behind Tinubu’s leadership despite internal debates surrounding consensus arrangements and party reforms.
However, critics online dismissed the exercise as largely symbolic, arguing that the absence of strong internal opposition raised questions about the competitiveness of the process.
Some commentators also linked the political celebrations to broader national concerns, including insecurity, inflation, and economic hardship currently affecting many Nigerians.
Political analysts note that Tinubu’s commanding performance in the primary significantly strengthens his position within the ruling party while setting the stage for a potentially intense national contest against emerging opposition coalitions.
The APC is expected to conclude collation of the presidential primary results in Abuja on Sunday, where party officials are anticipated to formally ratify the outcome.
As preparations for the 2027 elections continue, the APC primary results are already shaping national political conversations around incumbency power, party unity, and the evolving opposition challenge facing the ruling party.
