- President accepts ‘sole candidacy’, promises better days
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday got the nod as the ‘sole candidate’ of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 race.
The party leadership, the APC’s 22 governors and federal lawmakers gave the President a pass mark after his mid-term assessment and decided he should run for re-election.
The President accepted the offer ‘gladly’ and pledged that greater and better days are ahead for Nigerians.
This took place at the Conference Centre in Abuja during the maiden APC Summit – an event organised by the ruling party which brought National Working Committee (NWC) members together with the Executive, the Legislature and governors to assess the performance of the Federal Government in two years.
Ministers Mohammed Idris (Information), David Umahi (Works) and Mohammed Ali Pate (Health), along with National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu gave the scorecard of the Federal Government before more than 2,000 leaders of the party and elected and appointed officials.
Apart from the President and Vice President Kashim Shettima, elders, such as former Interim National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande and former Ogun State Governor Chief Olusegun Osoba also attended.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq (Kwara) addressed the gathering.
The endorsement of the President was triggered by Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum Hope Uzodimma (Imo), a former senator, who, employing the Senate procedure, moved the ‘motion’ after reviewing the performance of the President which he rated highly, that he should be endorsed to run for a second term.
Uzodimma invited the Vice Chairman of PGF, another former senator, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, to step forward and second his motion, which he promptly did, and the hall erupted in applause.
Next, Senate President Godswill Akpabio equally endorsed the President on behalf of federal lawmakers.
National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje rounded off by calling other members of the NWC to stand by him on the podium to make what he called the ‘mother of all endorsements’.
He did this after reading his address, which touched on the president’s performance, the state of the party, and defections, which he said are coming ‘out of conviction and not out of convenience’, among other issues.
Moving the motion for endorsement on behalf of the federal legislators, Akpabio said: “I move that the President be returned as the sole candidate of the APC in 2027 and as the President of Nigeria. I so move.”
It was seconded by House of Representatives Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, who hailed President Tinubu for the dawn of a new era.
Ganduje, who announced the APC leadership endorsement, said: “As the chairman of the party and on behalf of the NWC – the only recognised platform, I believe, legally, to field a candidate in any election – I hereby affirm the various endorsements and declare President Bola Tinubu as the sole presidential candidate of the APC.”
Why governors endorsed President, by Uzodimma
The PGF Chairman explained the reason for the endorsement, saying that the President has been fulfilling his campaign promises to the country in the last two years.
He commended President Tinubu for his doggedness and forthrightness, stressing that the execution of projects by his government had restored hope for a brighter future.
Uzodimma said after a careful assessment of the progress made so far, the 22 governors elected on the platform of the ruling party resolved to back President Tinubu for a second term.
He said: “As I speak only this afternoon, members of the Progressive Governors Forum met at my (Imo) lodge and took five different decisions to bring to the leadership and members of our great party at this gathering.
“Taking advantage of this summit, we are satisfied with the mid-term review and performance evaluation report of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“We are aware that the Nigerian nation is moving in the right direction, economically, socially and politically, and that we are convinced that under President Tinubu, Nigeria will get to her destination faster in prosperity.
“We have resolved that the president be adopted as our standard bearer for the 2027 presidential election, for a second time in office.
“The governors produced by APC are hereby charged to take responsibility to manage federal government policies, occupy the political space in their domains and take responsibility for winning all elections in their states.”
Akpabio: Tinubu has lived up to expectations
Acknowledging that times are hard, Akpabio predicted a better tomorrow for the country under President Tinubu.
He said things would turn around for good based on the implementation of the bold and courageous policies and programmes of the government.
He urged party members to convert their promises to electoral victory for President Tinubu in 2027, unlike in 2023 when people in some parts of the country attended rallies and the party could not secure 25 per cent of the votes.
Akpabio said: “So, there is no need for eloquent speeches. Let the results that will come in 2027 reflect the actions and the speeches that we are saying here today.
“Please, note that in politics, it’s not over until it’s over. It’s the tree that bears the sweetest fruit that also gets the highest amount of stones.
“So, everything said here will show that yes, you are on course. You did it in Lagos, you are doing it in Nigeria.
“Even Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, has changed. The diplomats have confirmed that. This was not the way it was before you came. The economy has changed.
“But the reality is that we are not there yet, and we don’t want them there. Of course, mischief makers are still meeting in the night, so politics is the game of witchcraft. They meet in the night, and things change in the day.”
Abbas: let’s intensify grassroots mobilisation
The Speaker emphasised the importance of grassroots engagement and mobilisation ahead of 2027.
He urged party members to gird their loins.
He said the party should acknowledge both the achievements recorded and the challenges that lie ahead.
Abbas said: “Now is the time for every APC stakeholder to take our message directly to our communities.
“An electoral victory in 2027 will not be won on paper alone. It can only be secured by the confidence we inspire among our people.
“We can only inspire confidence by demonstrating how our policies are improving people’s lives and how they will continue to enhance the lives of Nigerians.
“All of us must effectively market the successes of the Tinubu Administration, specifically the recovery of fiscal health, the job creation drive, the expansion of infrastructure, and the security gains.
“Every APC governor, every APC Senator and member, every minister and commissioner, every special adviser and assistant, every board member, and indeed, every political appointee of this government must also collaborate with the President to translate his initiatives into tangible benefits that resonate with citizens across every ward.
“By selling our record relentlessly and listening attentively, we will carry the Renewed Hope Agenda forward into the next electoral cycle.
“I have no doubt in my mind whatsoever that come 2027, Mr. President and our party will secure a resounding mandate that confirms our capacity to deliver on the promise of a prosperous Nigeria.”
Ganduje: it is promised fulfilled
Ganduje said President Tinubu is on course, urging the party and Nigerians to support him for continuity.
Emphasising that the President has performed in office, he said: “Barely two years now into his administration, we can confidently say that Renewed Hope is no longer a vision on paper, it is a reality in motion.”
The Chairman urged party chieftains to remain united, stressing that there is strength in unity.
Ganduje added: “As I stand before you, I must stress this truth: we cannot go into the future divided, unprepared, or reactive.
“The challenges of our nation require a cohesive, disciplined, and ideologically sound party.
Tinubu’s mirrors Yew’s legacy, says Akume
Akume likened President Tinubu’s leadership to that of Singapore’s founding father, Lee Kuan Yew, praising his “reform-driven governance.”
He commended the President’s performance, describing it as visionary and transformative, despite public criticism over economic hardship and policy decisions.
Akume said: “In just two years, we have witnessed impactful decisions, strategic reforms, and commitment to national development.
“Mr President’s leadership reminds us of the legendary Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore — the man whose foresight, discipline, and tenacity transformed a small nation into a global model of prosperity and order.
“This is the quality of leadership Nigeria is privileged to have today in President Bola Tinubu.”
Akume said Nigerians are joining the ruling party, not on the basis of promises, but due to visible results and renewed purpose.
He said: “People are joining our party, the APC, not because of mere promises, but because they are experiencing concrete results.
“They see purpose, they see mission and meaning, and they see the bright future ahead. And to those still watching from afar, I say — our doors are wide open.”
He urged party members to begin mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general election, adding that they should maintain unity and show dedication.
Akume stressed: “The APC is a movement of progress and inclusiveness because nation-building is not the job of a few — it is a collective task.
“Everyone has a role to play, and we welcome more Nigerians who believe in our ideas and our inspirations.
“As we look ahead to 2027, now is the time to double down on our efforts.”
How we are making Nigeria safer, by Ribadu
Ribadu said the Federal Government and security services in the country have substantially confronted the multi-faceted security challenges inherited by the Bola Administration.
He said through the combined security effort, mass killings, wanton destruction, mass abductions, and terrorist attacks on government installations have been reduced.
He said: “For us to appreciate where we are today, it’s important to reflect on where we were before the coming of this administration on May 29, 2023.”
Ribadu recalled that in the past, terrorists enjoyed a free rein, with Nigeria experiencing attacks on the Abuja-Kaduna train, Kuje Prison, a church in Owo and an army battalion in Bwari, Abuja.
He listed the challenges, including Boko Haram in the Northeast, armed banditry in the Northwest, secessionist agitations by the IPOB/ESN in the Southeast, Niger Delta unrest and communal conflicts/herder-farmer conflicts especially in the North-central.
Ribadu said with the security agencies working as a team, the sit-at-home action in the Southeast and the attack on oil installations in the Niger Delta had been substantially addressed.
Tinubu not under any cabal, says Idris
Idris said President Tinubu is not under the control of any cabal or any other group.
The minister explained that the president welcomes a wide range of perspectives and takes bold and informed decisions in the best interest of Nigeria.
Idris stressed: “You need to study the president very well. You can have your voice; you can say what you want to say; he will listen to you but his decision is ultimately his own. I think it’s important for us to recognise that.”
Reiterating the President’s commitment to project implementation, he said: “The Renewed Hope Agenda is about positively impacting the lives of the people of Nigeria, through bold decisions designed to unleash the full scale of Nigerian potential, in a way that has never been seen or done before.”
The minister noted that “true leadership involves the ability to make decisions that might be tough in the short term, but are guaranteed to deliver lasting returns.”
Umahi lists road projects
Umahi said the President had acknowledged infrastructural development as the catalyst for economic growth.
Presenting his mid-term scorecard, he said the government inherited 2,604 ongoing projects valued at approximately N13 trillion, adding that with the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira, the current valuation of the inherited projects stands at about N20 trillion.
He said acting on the President’s directive, he prioritised ongoing legacy projects across the six geo-political zones and major economic corridors.
Umahi said 140 priority projects were selected, with an additional 65 new projects initiated.
The minister pointed out that 260 critical projects were implemented under the 2023 supplementary and 2024 budgets, valued at N208 billion.
He said major rehabilitation work was done on the Third Mainland Bridge, including full re-scoping of 14 kilometres of dual carriageway and ramps.
He gave details of the projects completed and ongoing in the six geo-political zones.
Pate: we have made progress in Health
Prof. Pate lauded Tinubu’s strategic focus on human capital development as a pillar of national progress, particularly in health, education, and social services.
He alluded to the signing of the Health Sector Compact between federal, state, local governments and development partners, which has led to improved coordination, governance, and service delivery.
He said the administration approved 21 key health-related policies, revitalised over 1,000 primary healthcare centres, and supported 37 million patient visits in Q1 2025 alone, an unprecedented increase from pre-2023 levels.
Pate said to reduce maternal mortality, 13 million women secured antenatal services, and more than 4,000 cesarean sections were conducted free of charge.
He said the health workforce capacity has expanded with over 61,000 frontline workers retrained, nurse enrollment increased to 115,000, and the introduction of 774 National Health Fellows now serving in each LGA with automatic employment.
On health insurance, Pate said the number of Nigerians covered rose from 16 million to 20 million within two years, surpassing previous national progress.
He said the administration has also channelled over N80 billion to 1,800 facilities nationwide and mobilised $3.4 billion in investment for the Health Sector Renewal Initiative, supporting over 70 private-sector-led projects and potentially creating 150,000 jobs.
The minister highlighted key infrastructural achievements, including the completion of projects in 61 tertiary hospitals, ongoing revitalisation of cancer centres, and establishment of new manufacturing partnerships within the healthcare value chain.
On health security, he said Nigeria has expanded vaccine coverage and launched 48 nationwide medical outreach missions.
He said confidence in the health system had grown, with surveys indicating a rise from 37 per cent in 2023 to 54 per cent in 2024.
The minister stressed that the foundational reforms set in motion require continued collaboration across all levels of government to sustain and expand the gains achieved thus far.
