President Bola Tinubu has secured a decisive victory in the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary, effectively cementing his candidacy for a second term ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The direct primary election, conducted across 8,809 wards nationwide, served primarily as a formal ratification of the incumbent’s candidacy. Party structures, including the National Executive Committee (NEC), the National Working Committee (NWC), the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), and state chapters, had previously endorsed the President. His sole challenger, Stanley Osifo, recorded negligible support across the country.

High Turnout and Grassroots Affirmation

After casting his ballot at Ward L2 in Ikoyi, Lagos, alongside First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, President Tinubu commended the peaceful conduct of the exercise, describing it as a validation of internal party democracy.

"This is politics; grassroots politics, where every member of the party has a right to participate and be involved," Tinubu stated. "It’s to ensure that we have internal democracy, and it’s peaceful and well-organised."

APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, confirmed that voting concluded orderly across all 774 local government areas (LGAs) and the 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Official collation is scheduled to be finalized at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja.

Breakdown of Key State Results

State collation officers reported overwhelming margins in favor of the President:

• Bayelsa State: State Collation and Returning Officer Governor Douye Diri certified that President Tinubu polled 277,192 votes across the state, while Osifo received five votes.

• Rivers State: Governor Siminalayi Fubara announced a total of 280,082 votes for Tinubu, with zero votes recorded for Osifo.

• Gombe State: Governor Muhammadu Yahaya reported 450,517 votes for the incumbent and zero for his challenger.

• Edo State: Returning Officer Governor Monday Okpebholo declared that Tinubu secured 131,096 votes against Osifo’s single vote.

• Osun State: Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola announced 100,880 votes for Tinubu, with zero votes for Osifo.

• Kebbi State: In Nassarawa II Ward (Birnin Kebbi LGA), Tinubu secured 5,652 votes, as announced by state APC Chairman Alhaji Abubakar Kana-Zuru.

In Kaduna State, Governor Uba Sani praised the transparent conduct of the affirmation process across 255 political wards. Massive delegate turnouts were also reported in Plateau State under the supervision of Jos North LGA Chairman J.K. Chris, and in Oyo State, where returning officer Teslim Folarin and stakeholder Sharafadeen Alli confirmed a peaceful exercise across 351 wards.

In Abia State, prominent party leaders including Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu led thousands of members to ratify the President’s candidacy in their respective local government areas.

Opposition ADC Grumbles Over Consensus Strategy

In contrast to the ruling party's consolidation, the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) continues to navigate internal divisions regarding its presidential ticket ahead of its scheduled Monday primary.

Efforts to produce a consensus candidate among key aspirants—former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen—have stalled due to conflicting ambitions and substantial campaign investments already made by the candidates.

John Oyegun, Chairman of the 50-member ADC Policy and Manifesto Committee, stated that while a consensus arrangement remains the preferred route to preserve party cohesion, the ADC will comply with statutory requirements and proceed with a direct primary if negotiations fail.

"The law says where there is no agreement on consensus, we must conduct a direct primary. If that is what we have to do, we will do it," Oyegun told reporters.

The contest remains highly competitive:

Rotimi Amaechi has firmly rejected stepping down, stating during a mobilization drive in Kano that he is fully prepared to let the party delegates decide.

Mohammed Hayatu-Deen maintained a collaborative tone but declined to withdraw, pledging instead to support whoever emerges from a transparent process.

Dele Momodu, a party chieftain, noted that a fiercely contested primary is not inherently detrimental, provided the process maintains democratic integrity.

Meanwhile, ADC stakeholder Timothy Osadolor urged Atiku Abubakar to actively pursue negotiations rather than assuming a clear path to the nomination, citing the shifting political landscape and the organizational strength of rival factions.

"He will be making a mistake in thinking that Rotimi Amaechi can be wished away or run over in today’s politics or within the ADC," Osadolor cautioned, suggesting that a full scale primary could fracture the party ahead of broader opposition realignments.