APC Starts Collation of Primary Results, Confirms Tinubu as 2027 Candidate

TL;DR: The APC has begun collating primary results in Abuja, officially confirming President Bola Tinubu as its 2027 presidential candidate while dismissing viral videos that claim vote‑count irregularities.

Context The All Progressives Congress (APC) held its presidential primary on Saturday, allowing every registered party member to vote. The exercise covered 8,809 wards across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). With the collation now underway at the Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre, the party moves toward issuing a certificate of return to Tinubu.

Key Facts - Voting took place in 8,809 wards nationwide, reflecting the party’s direct primary system where all members cast ballots for their preferred candidate. - National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda addressed a circulating video that alleged miscounting, stating the footage originated from an event three to four years ago and lacked APC banners, logos, and membership cards. - Governors from ten states—including Niger, Bayelsa, and Ondo—attended the collation, alongside former Senate Presidents Ken Nnamani and Pius Anyim, federal lawmakers, and state chairmen. - APC officials highlighted the high turnout as evidence of grassroots support and described internal disputes as normal competition, noting the party’s conflict‑resolution mechanisms at state and national levels. - The party’s 2026 primary results committee chair, Pius Anyim, previously called the voting exercise “too big and challenging” to manage, underscoring the logistical scale of the operation.

What It Means The commencement of collation signals the APC’s confidence in Tinubu’s nomination and its readiness to present a unified front for the 2027 general election. By publicly refuting the miscount videos, the party aims to curb misinformation and reinforce the legitimacy of its internal democratic process. The presence of high‑level officials suggests an effort to project cohesion despite inevitable intra‑party disagreements.

Looking ahead, the APC will seek to translate the reported mass participation into voter turnout on election day, while opposition parties monitor the collation for any procedural irregularities.