BY: EMMANUEL CHUKWUMA, ENUGU.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has emerged victorious in the concluded All Progressives Congress Presidential Primary Election held on Saturday across the 305 INEC wards in the 27 local government areas of Imo State.

Announcing the results, the State Collation Officer for the APC Presidential Primary in Imo State and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, at the Imo International Conference Centre in the state capital, disclosed that President Tinubu secured a total of 582,960 votes to defeat his challenger, Stanley Osifo, who polled 103 votes.

The exercise, which witnessed massive participation by party faithful across the state, was conducted peacefully under the supervision of party officials and the electoral committee, with officials from INEC, police, and the DSS monitoring.

The outcome further reaffirmed the overwhelming support enjoyed by President Tinubu within the APC structure in Imo State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Governor Hope Uzodimma declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has earned the right to seek re-election in 2027, citing the administration’s grassroots-driven reforms, democratic inclusiveness, and growing nationwide support within the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking during the APC presidential primary exercise at Omuma Ward in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State, Uzodimma said the large turnout of party members reflected increasing confidence in Tinubu’s leadership and the party’s internal democratic process.

The governor commended the electronic membership registration and validation system introduced by the APC, noting that it had strengthened grassroots participation and enhanced internal democracy within the party.
“You can see over 35,000 people in just one ward in Oru East. If only APC members vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he has already won the election,” Uzodimma stated.

He praised Nigerians for sustaining democracy and described Tinubu as a leader “doing politics the way it should be done.” Uzodimma also expressed satisfaction with the democratic process in the country, saying he could “score democracy 90 per cent in Nigeria and 100 per cent in Imo State.”

Addressing opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general election, the governor urged them to remain organised and active, stressing that opposition remained essential to a healthy democratic system. He further maintained that Tinubu’s policies were already producing positive outcomes that would eventually translate into greater prosperity for Nigerians.

Following the collation of results from across the state, Uzodimma, who served as the returning officer for the APC presidential primary in Imo State, officially announced Tinubu as the overwhelming winner of the exercise.

According to him, results were collated from all 27 local government areas and 305 Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) wards in the state. Out of 647,231 registered APC members, 583,963 voters were accredited, while 583,653 votes were cast during the exercise.

Tinubu secured 582,823 votes to emerge victorious, defeating Stanley Osufo, who scored 133 votes.

Uzodimma described the exercise as peaceful, orderly, and successful, commending party members for their discipline and maturity throughout the process.

He also called on eligible residents who were yet to register with the APC to do so ahead of the general elections to strengthen the party’s electoral base across the state.

The exercise ended with goodwill messages and renewed optimism among party stakeholders as preparations gradually began for the 2027 general elections.