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.”
