Tinubu Urges APC Leaders to Hold Primaries When Consensus Fails

President Bola Tinubu has urged All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders across Nigeria to proceed with party primaries wherever internal consensus cannot be reached. The call was conveyed through a statement released by the president’s Special Assistant on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday.

In the statement, Tinubu appealed to all participants – candidates and delegates – to maintain calm and to conduct the contests in a spirit of sportsmanship that serves both the party and the nation. He warned that partisan rancor would damage Nigeria’s democratic process and undermine party unity. “Election is an essential ingredient of democracy. Where consensus fails, I urge us all to go into the primaries as brothers and sisters,” he said.

Tinubu underscored that every contest produces a winner and a loser. He cautioned victors against complacency and urged defeated aspirants to accept the outcome graciously and to ready themselves for future opportunities. “The ultimate winners are those who do not wreck the boat but instead prepare for another round. Our opponents are waiting for us to turn on each other; we should disappoint them,” he added.

The president’s message arrives as the APC prepares for a series of internal elections that will determine candidates for upcoming national and state contests. Party officials have faced growing friction in several states, with factions vying for control of delegate lists and nomination processes. Tinubu’s intervention seeks to curb such tensions before they spill over into the broader political arena.

Political analysts note that Tinubu’s emphasis on unity reflects broader concerns about the impact of intra‑party disputes on Nigeria’s electoral stability. They argue that a disciplined primary process could bolster the APC’s credibility ahead of the next general election cycle, while also preserving the integrity of the country’s democratic institutions.

The president’s appeal underscores a recurring theme in Nigerian politics: the need for internal party mechanisms to resolve conflicts without resorting to public confrontations. By urging calm and collective responsibility, Tinubu hopes to set a tone that discourages factionalism and reinforces the APC’s role as a cohesive force in the nation’s political landscape.

The upcoming primaries will test the effectiveness of the president’s call, with party officials expected to schedule the votes in the coming weeks. Observers will watch closely to see whether the APC can translate the president’s exhortations into a peaceful and orderly selection process, thereby strengthening its position ahead of future electoral battles.