2027: Tinubu Secures APC Ticket, Admits Reform Burden

ABUJA — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally consolidated his grip on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) after receiving the party’s official flag and Certificate of Return as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

​The presentation ceremony took place on Sunday at the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, following a landslide victory in the party’s direct primary elections conducted across 8,809 wards nationwide on Saturday.

​APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, presented the certificate to the President, describing it as a mandate backed by over 10 million party faithful.

​’I Have Lost Sleep and Weight Too’

​In an emotionally charged acceptance speech delivered before party stalwarts, governors, and legislators, President Tinubu addressed the socio-economic challenges currently facing the country. He acknowledged that the sweeping fiscal and structural reforms introduced by his administration over the past three years have taken a severe toll on ordinary citizens.

​In an unusually candid admission, the President stated that the burden of governance and the impact of the reforms weigh as heavily on him as they do on the public.

​”I know what it takes to reform this nation we met in tatters. If you lost sleep, I’ve lost some too. If you’ve lost weight, I’ve lost some too. But I’ve always remembered one thing: in 2022, I asked for this job. You all supported me and I got it. So I must do it.”

— President Bola Tinubu

​Reflecting on the conduct of the primary, Tinubu expressed satisfaction with the peaceful nature of the exercise across the states, noting that the absence of rancor or bloodshed demonstrates a maturing internal democracy within the ruling party.

​A Landslide Primary Victory

​The formal declaration followed the collation of internal ballots from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The final tally revealed a definitive margin of victory for the incumbent over his sole challenger:

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• ​Bola Ahmed Tinubu: 10,999,162 votes
• ​Stanley Osifo: 16,503 votes

​The primary election saw a massive turnout in traditional APC strongholds, particularly in Kano and Kaduna states, alongside significant participation across the southern zones.

​With the party flag and certificate now officially delivered, the APC high command declared its internal selection process successfully closed, positioning the party for an early start to the 2027 presidential campaign trail.