The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, visited Sokoto on Thursday to seek the blessing of Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar III. At the Sultan’s palace, Buhari urged the electorate to trust Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima, to succeed him and “build on the successes” of his regime. “My wish is for your support and blessings; we want to win,” Buhari told the Sultan, according to a statement released by the President’s spokesperson, Garba Shehu. The statement, titled “President Buhari, Tinubu to Sultan: we want to win these elections,” noted that Buhari’s 20‑year relationship with the Sultan gave him confidence to endorse the APC flag‑bearer.
Buhari highlighted Tinubu’s tenure as governor of Lagos State—Nigeria’s former federal capital and now a commercial hub—as his greatest selling point. He praised Tinubu’s “effective governance of Lagos, his commitment to democracy, and his role at the centre as a Senator,” adding that Tinubu’s long‑standing association with the President left him with “no reservations in supporting him as the candidate of the APC.” Buhari urged Nigerians to entrust Tinubu with power, emphasizing that the APC ticket, with Shettima as running mate, would continue the achievements of his administration.
Tinubu, speaking after the presentation, said, “I have come to be presented to you as candidate. The President and Commander‑in‑Chief, Muhammadu Buhari, is here in person to do that. I want to win the election. Is there a way you will decline the request of the President?” The Sultan, describing himself as an apolitical father of all and custodian of culture, replied that he would continue to receive anyone seeking the throne’s blessing, noting that many had come before and many more would follow. “We will continue to pray for our nation. We cannot be tired of praying and will continue to advocate for peaceful and free elections in our fatherland,” he said, assuring Buhari that the Caliphate stood behind him in the quest for free and fair elections. The Sultan also praised the President’s commitment to attend the next signing of the Peace Accord by political parties, viewing it as evidence of the regime’s desire to ensure a credible electoral process.
After the palace meeting, the delegation moved to the Giginya Memorial Stadium for a campaign rally. Buhari urged supporters to work for the party’s success in the upcoming elections at all levels, noting that Tinubu and Shettima understood Nigeria’s challenges, having each served as two‑time governors in their respective states, and would offer solutions to the nation’s problems. Also present at the rally were Senate President Ahmed Lawan, House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, former Governor Aliyu Wamakko, and other party stalwarts.
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