Abuja: As the All Progressives Congress (APC) begins its nationwide primaries on Friday, President Bola Tinubu urged party members to unite and demonstrate fairness and sportsmanship to guarantee credible results.
Tinubu said this in a signed release Thursday ahead of the APC primaries, which start with House of Representatives elections and end May 25 with the presidential selection.
The President emphasised that primaries are not just about choosing candidates but also a test of the ruling APC’s unity, resilience, and strength.
He said the process enables members to renew shared bonds and recommit to the principles upon which APC was founded.
Reflecting on the party’s journey, Tinubu said, “I am pleased to witness this historic moment in our party. The party we formed just yesterday is entering its fourth election cycle.”
He said the APC was built on progressive values, consensus, dedication, sacrifice, and selflessness, and has thrived through successive elections.
Looking ahead, he urged members to uphold APC ideals and build on the foundation of previous elections.
The President commended party leaders’ efforts to produce consensus candidates in line with the Electoral Act 2026 and the APC’s constitution.
He described consensus as praiseworthy, saying it can ease conflict, resentment, and division during primaries.
He encouraged stakeholders to prioritise consensus where feasible for smoother primaries and greater unity ahead of elections.
However, he said that if a consensus cannot be reached, members should conduct primaries peacefully, as supportive party members.
He said all primary participants must maintain peace and act as sportsmen in the party’s interest.
The President warned against rancour and divisive politics that could harm democracy and party unity.
He advised winners not to boast and encouraged those who lost to remain committed to the party’s future.
He said, “Our opponents expect us to fight; we must disappoint them. Winners should reach out to those who did not succeed.”
He urged the party to include more women and youths in elections, calling them vital groups that must not be overlooked.
The President also called on police and security agencies to remain professional and focus solely on ensuring peaceful conduct.
Unity #FairPlay #NigerianPolitics
Tinubu Rallies APC: Unity, Fair Play Key as Primaries Begin
Abuja: As the All Progressives Congress (APC) begins its nationwide primaries on Friday, President Bola Tinubu urged party members to unite. He asked them to demonstrate fairness and sportsmanship to guarantee credible results.
Tinubu said this in a signed release on Thursday. The APC primaries start with House of Representatives elections and end on May 25 with the presidential election.
The President emphasised that primaries not only choose candidates but also test the ruling APC’s unity, resilience, and strength.
He explained that the process helps members renew shared bonds and recommit to the principles that founded the APC.
Reflecting on the party’s journey, Tinubu said, “I am pleased to witness this historic moment in our party. The party we formed just yesterday is entering its fourth election cycle.”
He described the APC as a party built on progressive values, consensus, dedication, sacrifice, and selflessness, which has thrived through successive elections.
He encouraged members to uphold APC ideals and build on past elections.
The President commended party leaders for their efforts to produce consensus candidates. He noted this was done in line with the Electoral Act 2026 and the APC’s constitution.
He praised consensus, noting that it can ease conflict, resentment, and division during primaries.
He urged stakeholders to prioritise consensus where possible to ensure smoother primaries and greater unity ahead of elections.
However, he said that if a consensus cannot be reached, members should conduct primaries peacefully. They should act as supportive party members.
He said all primary participants must maintain peace. They must also act as sportsmen in the party’s interest.
The President warned: avoid rancour and divisive politics that may harm democracy and party unity.
He advised winners not to boast. He also encouraged those who lost to remain committed to the party’s future.
He said, “Our opponents expect us to fight; let’s disappoint them. Winners, reach out to those who did not succeed.”
He urged the party to include more women and youth in elections. He called them vital groups that must not be overlooked.
The President also called on police and security agencies to remain professional. He told them to focus only on ensuring peaceful conduct.
