ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Nentawe Yilwatda, has declared that the massive turnout recorded during the party’s nationwide 2026 primaries is a clear indication of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s growing popularity and the APC’s strong prospects ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Yilwatda made the remarks on Saturday after participating in the APC Presidential Primary election at Dungung Ward in Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The APC chairman arrived at the venue alongside former Plateau State governor and senator representing Plateau South, Simon Lalong, where they were received by Kanke Local Government Chairman, Hon. Lapchin Golime, amid a large crowd of party supporters.

Speaking shortly after casting his vote, Yilwatda described the turnout witnessed across polling centres as “organic,” insisting that Nigerians were increasingly embracing the APC and President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.

“You can see the massive turnout everywhere we visited. The support for President Tinubu and the APC is organic,” he stated.

According to him, the increasing number of politicians seeking elective positions on the APC platform reflects the growing acceptance of the ruling party across the country, especially at the grassroots.

Yilwatda maintained that despite complaints arising from the primaries, the party remained committed to internal reconciliation and democratic processes through established appeal mechanisms.

He also dismissed claims that APC’s victories were solely driven by incumbency, citing losses recorded by the party in some elections as proof that its success was rooted in popular support.

Also speaking, Lalong praised President Tinubu and the APC leadership for sustaining internal democracy, describing Yilwatda as one of the most impactful national chairmen the party has produced in recent years.

The APC national chairman later monitored party primaries in Kanke, Pankshin, and Mangu local government areas of Plateau State.Follow Krestnews.com for more reports.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

President Bola Tinubu has recorded a sweeping victory across several states as the All Progressives Congress (APC) held its 2026 presidential primary election on Saturday.

The exercise, which gathered momentum in the afternoon in most states, was presided over by governors who were officially mandated by the party to serve as collation officers.

In many of the results already announced, the president defeated Stanley Osifo, his lone challenger, who recorded zero votes in several states.

In Rivers state, Tinubu polled 280,468 votes, while Osifo recorded zero votes across the 23 LGAs of the state, according to Siminalayi Fubara, governor of the state.

It was a similar outcome in Edo, where Tinubu secured 131,096 votes, while Osifo got just one vote during the exercise held across the 192 wards in the state on Saturday.

Monday Okpebholo, the governor and returning officer for the election, described the exercise as peaceful and transparent.

Muhammadu Yahaya, governor of Gombe, who announced the outcome of the exercise, also said the APC in the state delivered every vote to Tinubu during the presidential primary held across the 11 LGAs.

Yahaya said Tinubu polled 450,516 votes while Osifo recorded zero votes, noting that the state has 550,516 registered APC members.

Osifo also recorded zero votes in Osun as Tinubu secured another landslide victory with 100,880 votes in the primary, which was described as peaceful by Adegboyega Oyetola, minister of marine and blue economy, who served as collation officer.

“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,” Oyetola said.

The president also recorded a clean sweep in Ebonyi, securing all 207,579 valid votes cast across the 13 LGAs, while his rival got zero votes.

Announcing the results in Abakaliki, Francis Nwifuru, governor of Ebonyi and collation officer for the state, said the exercise was held simultaneously across 171 wards and 13 LGAs, where the party has 215,490 members.

In Kwara, Tinubu also defeated Osifo, polling 310,990 votes while his lone challenger secured no votes.

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.

The same scenario played out in Bayelsa as Tinubu 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.

‘STRONG AFFIRMATIONS’

Meanwhile, 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.

He described the development as a strong demonstration of unity, loyalty, and confidence in the leadership of the APC and Tinubu.

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, Hope Uzodimma, governor of the state, said it is very obvious that “President Tinubu has done enough to deserve a second term”.

“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,” the governor said.

“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.”

TINUBU TO RECEIVE CERTIFICATE OF RETURN ON SUNDAY

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.

“President Tinubu to be presented by APC with certificate of return, party’s flag as the 2027 presidential candidate,” he 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.”

[TheCable]

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The presidential primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was conducted peacefully across several local government areas in Delta State on Friday, with party members turning out in large numbers to participate in the exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Across wards visited in Ethiope West, Oshimili North and South, Ika North-East, Ndokwa West, and Warri South-West local government areas, party faithful participated in the direct primary process, with President Bola Tinubu receiving overwhelming support.

At Oghareki Ward 7 in Ethiope West Local Government Area, members queued behind the agent of President Tinubu in line with the party’s Option A4 voting system.

The member representing Ethiope West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, participated in the process as party members in Oghareki and Mosogar turned out in large numbers.

Stakeholders in the area described the exercise as peaceful and orderly, urging party members to remain united ahead of the general elections.

Other wards monitored in the council area, including Oghara Ward 2, Ogharefe Ward 6, Mosogar Ward 8 and Jesse Ward 10, reportedly recorded a similar peaceful atmosphere.

In Warri South-West Local Government Area, the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Dennis Guwor, joined party faithful at Gbaramatu Ward 4 to participate in the direct presidential primary.

Speaking after casting his vote, Guwor described the exercise as a reflection of the APC’s commitment to internal democracy, noting that the direct primary system enabled registered party members to actively participate in choosing the party’s presidential candidate.

He commended the Presidential Primary Election Planning Committee and the APC State Working Committee for organising what he described as a smooth and credible exercise.

The Speaker also reaffirmed Delta APC’s support for President Tinubu and pledged continued efforts to strengthen the party structure ahead of future elections.

Similarly, Delta State Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, applauded party members in Ndokwa West Local Government Area for what he described as their impressive turnout and overwhelming support for President Tinubu during the exercise.

Speaking at the collation centre in Utagba-Uno after the announcement of results, Onyeme said the turnout demonstrated the people’s loyalty and confidence in Tinubu’s leadership.

He expressed optimism that Nigerians would witness more development under a second-term administration, stating that ongoing government policies were designed to improve the economy and citizens’ welfare.

The Returning Officer for Ndokwa West, Honourable Johnson Erijo, disclosed that the area had a membership strength of 28,789, adding that the primary was peaceful and orderly.

He announced President Tinubu winner of the primary in the area with 26,277 votes, while challenger Stanley Osifo polled no votes.

In Ika North-East Local Government Area, the presidential primary was also conducted peacefully at voting centres in Ute-Okpu Ward 9 and Akumazi Ward 7, where party members turned out for accreditation and counting.

Party stalwarts attributed the turnout to growing support for Tinubu’s policies and programmes, expressing confidence in his administration’s direction.

Meanwhile, Oshimili North and South local government areas witnessed a similar peaceful process, with voters turning out in large numbers across wards in Asaba, Cable Point, Okwe, Okpanam, and Ibusa.

Returning officers and ward leaders described the process as transparent and orderly, noting that the turnout reflected confidence in both the party leadership and the electoral process.

Speaking in Lagos after casting his vote at Ikoyi-Obalende Ward L2, President Bola Tinubu described the nationwide APC primary as evidence of internal democracy and grassroots participation within the ruling party.

The president commended members for their orderly conduct and praised governors and party officials for ensuring what he called a peaceful and transparent process across the country.