President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially emerged as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress following his overwhelming victory in the party’s presidential primary election held in Abuja.
Tinubu secured a total of 10,999,162 votes to defeat his challenger, Stanley Osifo, who polled 16,503 votes in the exercise.
At a colourful ceremony held on Sunday at the International Conference Centre, the President was presented with the APC flag and certificate of return by the party’s National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda.
The event attracted top political figures and party faithful from across the country, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, APC governors, members of the National Working Committee, senior government officials, political appointees, lawmakers and thousands of supporters.
The convention venue erupted in celebration as Tinubu mounted the stage to receive the party’s symbolic flag amid loud cheers and chants from delegates and supporters.
Speaking shortly after receiving the certificate of return, the President expressed gratitude to party members for the confidence reposed in him, describing the victory as a collective triumph for the APC family.
He pledged to continue working for national unity, economic growth and democratic stability while calling on party members to remain united ahead of the next general election.
The outcome of the primary election is widely seen as another strong consolidation of Tinubu’s influence within the ruling party as preparations intensify for the national polls.
