Dogara hails Tinubu’s APC presidential primary victory

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, CFR, has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s landslide victory in the presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a defining moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey.

Dogara, who served as Bauchi State Coordinator and Collation Officer while also a member of the National Presidential Primary Election Committee, said the result was not just a victory for Tinubu but a triumph for grassroots democracy. He congratulated the President on behalf of Bauchi State and in his capacity as a member of the committee, describing the victory as extraordinary, historic and thoroughly deserved.

The final results revealed Tinubu’s overwhelming mandate: 10,999,162 votes across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, compared to just 15,503 for his sole challenger, Stanley Osifo. For Dogara this margin was more than a statistic; it was a statement of confidence from millions of APC members nationwide.

He noted that nearly eleven million Nigerians rose in unison to affirm a leader who had earned their trust, describing the achievement as a movement rather than simply an achievement.

Dogara praised the electoral committee, chaired by former SGF Pius Anyim and comprising respected figures such as Ken Nnamani, Victor Ndoma-Egba and Idris Wada, for ensuring transparency, credibility and fairness throughout the process. He said the committee was given the sacred mandate to ensure integrity and was proud to have faithfully fulfilled that responsibility.

He also highlighted Tinubu’s decision to undergo direct primaries under the Electoral Act 2026, which abolished delegate voting and empowered millions of party members at the grassroots. Dogara pointed out that Tinubu could have relied on the powers of the incumbent president but instead chose to stand before the people.

He described it as humility and character, stressing that Tinubu had signed the law, supported the reforms and then undergone the same process, demonstrating his commitment to democratic principles.

In his closing remarks, Dogara urged Tinubu to carry the burden of people’s trust with integrity and determination.

He reminded the President that nearly eleven million Nigerians have entrusted their hopes to him, describing it as a responsibility of historic proportions.

He charged Tinubu to faithfully fulfill that mandate, declaring that history is watching and Nigerians are proud.