APC deepening internal democracy after primary election – Yilwatda

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has described the collation and announcement of results of the party’s presidential primary election across the 36 states and the FCT as transparent.

Yilwatda spoke on Sunday at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, venue of the final collation and announcement of the results. He commended the Sen. Pius Anyim-led APC 2026 Presidential Primary Election Collation Committee.

He thanked the committee for making his job easier, saying it performed excellently in coordination, preparation and ensuring that the exercise was conducted seamlessly.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Bola Tinubu defeated Mr Stanley Osifo, an APC presidential aspirant, to clinch the party’s presidential ticket for the 2027 presidential election.

Tinubu polled 10.99 million votes to defeat Osifo, his only rival, who scored 16,504 votes in the presidential primary held on May 23 across 8,809 wards in the 36 states and the FCT, according to results collated by the Anyim-led committee.

The APC said 31 states and other top party chieftains, who served as coordinators and collation officers in their respective states, presented the results of the direct primaries to the committee.

While Tinubu dominated all 36 states and the FCT, winning 100 per cent of the votes in most states, Osifo scored 5,248 votes in Niger, 2,675 in Kano, 1,186 in Lagos, 1,007 in Abia, 929 in Oyo, 779 in Benue and 768 in Nasarawa State.

“We started with the primary election from the House of Assembly, the National Assembly and governorship, and we climaxed with the presidential primary.

“We have two aspirants for this position: the sitting President, Bola Tinubu, and the second aspirant, Stanley Osifo.

“Yesterday, May 23, was the primary election. It was conducted nationwide. Accreditation took place in all the wards across the country.

“We also ensured that there was collation at local government level, which was done yesterday (Saturday). Most states also carried out their collation yesterday at the state level, while some did it today,” he said.

Yilwatda added that the exercise was broadcast live on selected television stations to demonstrate transparency, saying the party was deepening its internal democracy.

“We decided to make this programme live on five television stations. It is also online, and I am happy that the two people representing the two aspirants are here,” he said.

The APC national chairman said challenges encountered during the exercise were addressed, demonstrating that the party remained open whenever issues arose or mistakes were made.

“Corrections were made based on the suggestions of the representatives of the two aspirants.

“And I am happy that this collation has gone smoothly, with mutual respect between the two aspirants, and also the respect every aspirant in the party has shown to the party.”

He thanked the governors who served as returning officers in their states, adding that the collation process had been properly organised and that other individuals were also selected as state returning officers.

“Thank you very much for the great job you have done, a sacrifice to the nation and to the party at no cost. May God bless your efforts and what you have done for this party,” he said.

Yilwatda also thanked party supporters and members at all levels for backing the APC throughout the various stages of the primary elections.