Tinubu Wins APC Presidential Primary in Landslide, Secures 2027 Ticket

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has won the All Progressives Congress presidential primary, securing the party’s ticket for the 2027 general election. The nationwide ward-level exercise held on Saturday, May 23, 2026, saw Tinubu sweep votes across states, with party leaders describing it as a reaffirmation of loyalty to his leadership.

The primary was conducted using the direct mode, allowing registered APC members in all 8,809 wards to participate. Results from states show Tinubu winning by overwhelming margins against his lone challenger, businessman Stanley Osifo.

Results Across States

In Bayelsa, Tinubu polled 227,192 votes while Osifo managed just 5 votes. Governor Douye Diri, who served as returning officer, described the exercise as peaceful and well-organized.

Delta State ,delivered 407,646 votes for Tinubu, according to reports. Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who coordinated the primary in Delta, had earlier mobilized party leaders to ensure a massive turnout, citing the state’s 470,000 registered APC members.

*Osun State* recorded 100,880 votes for Tinubu and zero for Osifo across 332 wards. Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola, who announced the result, said the turnout reflected confidence in Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. 

In *Lagos*, Tinubu’s home state, he polled 4,996 votes in Ward L2, Eti-Osa LGA, out of 5,163 accredited voters. The President and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu voted at Ward E, Ikoyi, amid heavy press coverage and party supporters. 

*Kano, Zamfara, Jigawa, Edo, and Ogun* also reported landslide wins for Tinubu. In Zamfara, Governor Dauda Lawal announced 321,579 votes for Tinubu against 42 for Osifo. In Jigawa’s Ringim LGA, Tinubu scored 15,670 votes to Osifo’s 0.

Ahead of the vote, APC governors, ministers, and stakeholders mobilized support for the President. Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume said Tinubu’s performance, patriotism, and inclusive governance had earned him widespread backing.

Former Ogun Governor Ibikunle Amosun said the primary was a “special moment” for members to publicly reaffirm loyalty to Tinubu and the APC. “Today is for the President and we all must come out to show and demonstrate that yes, we are for the President, we are for APC,” Amosun stated. 

Anambra APC Chairman Senator Emmanuel Anosike said the state was fully prepared to ensure Tinubu emerged victorious. “We will ensure that he wins in Anambra State... to enable him continue his good governance and all-inclusiveness administration in Nigeria,” he said. 

Even some who lost other primaries urged support for Tinubu. Osun Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi, after losing his senatorial ticket, called on APC members to back the President, describing him as “a visionary leader whose commitment to national development... has continued to inspire confidence”. 

A Consensus Candidate

The primary followed weeks of internal party activity. Governorship, senate, and house primaries held earlier in May, with some states experiencing disputes over consensus candidates. President Tinubu had cautioned members against infighting and “do-or-die” politics ahead of the exercise. 

By Saturday, the party had largely aligned behind Tinubu’s second-term bid. Many state chapters framed the vote as a formality to affirm an existing consensus among members nationwide.

With the APC ticket secured, Tinubu now heads into the 2027 presidential election as the ruling party’s flagbearer. The exercise gives him early momentum and signals party unity heading into the campaign.

Tinubu described the primary as a “demonstration of internal democracy” and praised APC governors for their role in organizing the process. He said his focus was on ensuring the party maintained peaceful, well-organized internal elections. 

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party and other parties are expected to hold their primaries in the coming months. The 2027 presidential election is scheduled for January 16, 2027. 

For APC members, Saturday’s vote was about continuity. For Tinubu, it’s a mandate to continue his Renewed Hope agenda for another four years. As results continue to trickle in from wards across the country, the message from the party base is clear: Tinubu remains the face of the APC.