The single sharpest fact in the recently concluded APC presidential primaries is that President Bola Tinubu has won the party's ticket with a commanding 10,999,162 votes. This is more than 660 times the votes secured by his sole challenger, Mr Stanley Osifo, who got 16,503 votes.

And this landslide victory wasn't limited to one or two regions

  • Tinubu recorded his highest tally in Lagos with 814,988 votes, followed by Adamawa with 644,149 and Kaduna with 618,914. Other strongholds included Imo, Kano, Katsina, and Gombe.

But what's more surprising is that Osifo, who paid N100m for the APC presidential nomination form, failed to secure a single vote in 21 states and the FCT. These states include Osun, Kogi, Delta, Ebonyi, Jigawa, Kwara, Borno, Enugu, Kebbi, Ondo, Yobe, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Ekiti, Ogun, Sokoto, Cross River, Taraba, and Gombe. He didn't win any votes in these areas.

Speaking on his victory, President Tinubu cautioned Nigerians not to allow politicians with no clear vision to take the country backward. He promised to consolidate the reforms his administration had embarked on. He also promised to work harder for the posterity Nigerians had longed for, and to place the country on an irreversible path within another four years.

"We won’t allow opposition with no clear vision to take Nigeria backward," Tinubu said. "Our primary was a dress rehearsal for the main poll."

The President also expressed his willingness to dialogue with political opponents and critics of his administration. He said he bore no grudge against his challenger, Stanley Osifo. He urged Nigerians to come together to build a better future for the country. They can't afford to be divided at this critical juncture.

So, what does this mean for the 2027 presidential election? With Tinubu now firmly in control of the APC ticket, the political landscape ahead of the election is rapidly taking shape. Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Mr Peter Obi, has emerged as the sole presidential aspirant of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC. It's clear that Obi is a strong contender.

The real challenge lies ahead - the battle for the ADC ticket, which will be contested by three frontline aspirants, including former vice president and three-time presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar; former Rivers State governor and Transportation Minister, Mr Rotimi Amaechi; and economist, Mohammed Hayattu-Deen. They're all experienced politicians with a lot to offer.

  • 31 APC governors endorsed Tinubu for the presidential ticket.
  • Tinubu polled 10,999,162 votes in the APC presidential primary.
  • Osifo, his closest challenger, got 16,503 votes.
  • The APC primary was conducted across 8,809 wards in the 36 states and the FCT.
  • Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, and Mohammed Hayattu-Deen will battle for the ADC presidential ticket. They won't give up without a fight.

The APC celebrates its successful primary, but the party's National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, has dismissed criticisms trailing the exercise. He described the primaries as a "dress rehearsal" for the 2027 general elections, saying the massive turnout across the country signposted what Nigerians should expect at the polls. The turnout was impressive, and it's a good sign for the party.

The 2027 presidential election will be a defining moment for Nigeria. The question on every Nigerian's mind is: who will emerge victorious? The election will be a contest of ideas, vision, and leadership. It won't be easy, but it's what Nigeria needs.

As President Tinubu said, "Democracy is sustained not by uniformity but by diversity, by a shared belief in the nation and the blending of ideas." This message resonates with Nigerians, who are yearning for a better future. They want a future that's built on the principles of democracy, justice, and equality. They won't settle for anything less.

The nation moves towards the 2027 presidential election, and it's clear that the stakes are high. The election will be a test of the country's democratic institutions, a test of the people's will, and a test of the leaders' vision. Nigeria will emerge stronger, more united, and more prosperous after the election. It's what the country needs to move forward.