President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has secured the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after polling 10,999,162 votes in the party’s nationwide primaries.
The result was announced on Sunday at the International Conference Centre in Abuja following a nationwide collation exercise that spanned all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Tinubu received the party’s certificate of return and symbolic flag from APC chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, formally emerging as the party’s standard-bearer for the next general election.
In his acceptance speech, the President said: “In accepting this nomination, I renew my commitment to serve our nation with even greater determination. With another four years of disciplined focus and national cooperation, we will firmly place Nigeria on an irreversible path of economic expansion, industrialisation, energy security, infrastructure development, food sufficiency, and democratic consolidation.”
The Chairman of the APC Presidential Election Committee, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, said the exercise complied with guidelines set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), electoral laws, and the APC constitution.
According to him, 12,643,316 party members were registered, 11,069,746 accredited, and 11,015,665 voted. Tinubu’s only challenger, Stanley Osifo, polled 16,503 votes.
Anyim added that voting took place across 774 local government areas and 8,809 wards, with results collated in Abuja by designated officers, largely state governors. He described the process as fair, noting that agents of both aspirants were given the opportunity to contest results where necessary.
Tinubu used the occasion to defend his administration’s record over the past three years, citing reforms in taxation, fiscal policy, and the power sector.
“Our economy has undergone significant structural reform, supported by new tax laws and fiscal policies that have boosted revenue collection for the federation,” he said.
“We promised to remove the financial barriers to higher education for our youth. Today, we have established the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, with over N282 billion disbursed and over 1.5 million beneficiaries.”
On power, he said: “We promised an improved power supply and an end to estimated billing. In the past three years, we have closed the metering gap by supplying 2.5 million meters via the Presidential Metering Initiative.”
He also defended the removal of fuel subsidies and exchange rate reforms, arguing that they had stabilised the economy despite global shocks.
“We moved away from wasteful fuel subsidies, unstable exchange rates, and weak infrastructure. Today, we are witnessing a turnaround: the naira is strengthening, foreign reserves are rising, and our economic outlook is positive despite the inflationary disruption caused by the war in Iran and the geopolitical crisis in the Middle East,” he said.
The President highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects, including coastal highways and the Sokoto–Badagry corridor, as well as reforms in the oil and gas sector aimed at attracting fresh investment.
While acknowledging persistent security challenges, Tinubu assured Nigerians of continued efforts to restore peace.
“I assure you that I take seriously the responsibility to safeguard the lives and property of every Nigerian,” he said. “We will not rest until we restore peace and stability to every corner of our country.”
He also extended an olive branch to political opponents, emphasising inclusivity in governance, saying: “To those who may disagree with us politically, we extend a hand of partnership in nation-building… Democracy is sustained not by uniformity, but by diversity, by a shared belief in the nation and the blending of ideas.”
Tinubu thanked party leaders, governors, lawmakers, and members for entrusting him with the mandate, urging them to campaign on the APC’s record since 2015, particularly the achievements of the past three years.
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