By Olawale Lamina
President Bola Tinubu wil on Sunday, (today) receive his Certificate of Return as the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, following his sweeping victory at the 2026 party primary held on Saturday
The primary election on Saturday which took place in most part of the country was oversseen over by state governors officially saddled with the responsibility by the party to serve as collation officers.
Looking at the outcomes in many states, Tinubu defeated Stanley Osifo, his only challenger in the direct primary exercise ,who recorded zero votes in many states of the country.
Recall that a case was made for Direct Primary Election in which every registered, card-carrying member of a political party votes directly to choose the party’s flag-bearer. It operates on a “one member, one vote” system. The aim is to strengthen internal democracy in a plural society.
In Rivers, Edo, Gombe, Osun, Kwara, Ebonyi and many other states, the announced results indicated a landslide victory for President Tinubu.
Results from Rivers indicated that Pres. Tinubu polled 280,468 votes, while his opponent recorded zero votes across the 23 LGAs of the state, according to Siminalayi Fubara, governor of the state, who presided over the exercise.
Edo recorded similar outcome where Tinubu secured 131,096 votes, while Osifo got just a vote during the exercise held across the 192 wards in the state on Saturday. Monday Okpebholo, the state governor and returning officer for the election, said the exercise was peaceful and transparent.
In Gombe state, governor Muhammadu Yahaya declared the results from the exercise and stated that the APC in the state delivered every vote to Tinubu during the presidential primary held across the 11 LGAs. According to Yahaya, Tinubu polled 450,516 votes while Osifo recorded zero votes, noting that the state has 550,516 registered APC members.
Tinubu’s opponent also recorded zero votes in Osun as the President secured another landslide victory with 100,880 votes in the primary, which was described as peaceful by the collation officer, Adegboyega Oyetola, the minister of marine and blue economy,
Oyetola said: “This impressive turnout is not only historic but also a resounding affirmation of the confidence reposed by members of our party in the leadership, vision and Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. ”
The president also recorded a clear win in Ebonyi state by securing all 207,579 valid votes cast across the 13 LGAs, while Osifo got no votes.
The governor of Ebonyi state, Francis Nwifuru who announced the results in Abakaliki as the collation officer for the state declared that the exercise was held simultaneously across 171 wards and 13 LGAs, where the party has 215,490 members.
President Tinubu equally defeated his rival in Kwara state by polling 310,990 votes while his lone challenger got no votes.
Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, who announced the results, said a total of 457,374 party members were registered for the exercise, while 310,990 members were accredited and participated in the voting process across the state.
In Bayelsa state, it was all victory for the President who garnered 277,192 votes to defeat Osifo, who polled five votes, according to Doriel Nduwi, the collation officer.
Similarly, in Zamfara, Tinubu secured 321,579 votes against the 42 votes recorded by Osifo.
Dauda Lawal, governor of the state, who announced the result, said a total of 322,435 accredited voters participated in the exercise.
“I therefore declare President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the winner of the 2026 Zamfara State presidential primary,” Lawal said.
Reports say the president received affirmations in some states whose results have not been announced.
Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna, who personally monitored the primary across 255 political wards in the 23 LGAs, said party members turned out massively for the exercise. San described the development as a strong demonstration of unity, loyalty, and confidence in the leadership of the APC and Tinubu.
President Tinubu also received a similar affirmation in Imo as thousands of party members trooped out to cast their votes for his candidacy.
Speaking after the exercise, governor Hope Uzodimma, noted it is very obvious that “President Tinubu has done enough to deserve a second term”.
Uzodimma said: “Look at what has happened at the grassroots, how it has been stimulated, starting from the membership registration, which was done electronically, to the validation of members.”
“In just one ward, we had 35,000 people. It means that if only our party members vote for President Tinubu, he has already won the election.
“I want to thank President Tinubu for giving time to do politics the way it should be done. And I also want to thank our party members for coming out massively to vote for him as our candidate for the 2027 presidential election.”
President Tinubu to receive Certificate of Return
In a post on X, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s Senior Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, said the president will be presented with a certificate of return and the party’s flag on Sunday, (today).
“President Tinubu to be presented by APC with certificate of return, party’s flag as the 2027 presidential candidate,” Onanuga said.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will on Sunday receive the certificate and flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as its presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.
“The Presidential Primary Elections Committee will present the certificate and flag at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja after nationwide collation of the primary election results.
“APC governors, members of the National Executive Committee, the National Working Committee, and the National Assembly, along with party stalwarts, will attend the event.”
About The Author
