JamzNG Latest News, Gist, Entertainment in Nigeria
President Bola Tinubu’s 10,999,162 votes in the APC presidential primaries have triggered a wave of skepticism online, with many Nigerians wondering how this figure compares to his 2023 general election tally.
The numbers were released in a State House statement shared by presidential aide Bayo Onanuga.
According to the release, Tinubu defeated lone challenger Stanley Osifo, who polled 16,503 votes, in a national primary held in 774 LGAs and 8,809 districts on May 24.
The ad quickly went viral, sparking criticism and mockery. Critics have pointed to the 2023 presidential election, where INEC declared Tinubu the winner with 8,794,726 votes nationwide.
They argued that it was implausible that an internal party competition would produce higher turnout and support than a general election.
Much of the reaction has focused on the state-by-state breakdown, with users disputing data attributed to the South East and other areas where the APC has historically polled poorly.
Supporters countered that the result reflected the party’s mobilization and loyalty, but opposition voices and commentators dismissed it as exaggerated.
—Reactions online—
– @ubongutioh: “He only scored 8 million in the last election… Then 3 years later, he scored 11 million in the APC primary election. Magic. My concern is why shame does not de catch una!”
– @BeegTipsy: “How can someone have 8 million votes in the presidential election and 11 million votes in the party primaries? One doesn’t vote for Nigerians at all”
– @consultchimosky: “You guys keep organizing your primary elections even against your own members.”
As of Monday morning, the APC had issued no further clarifications beyond the initial press release.
Recall that Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election saw a total accredited vote of 24.9 million out of 93.4 million registered voters, with a voter turnout of 26.7%. Tinubu’s 8.79 million votes represented 36.6% of the valid votes cast.
Party primaries in Nigeria are generally conducted by delegates and party officials, not the general electorate.
A claim of nearly 11 million votes suggests either a straight primary involving all registered members of the APC or a significant discrepancy in how votes were counted and reported.
Direct primaries are permitted under the 2022 electoral law, but are logistically complex and rarely produce turnout close to general election levels.
The APC used a mix of direct and indirect primaries in 2022 ahead of the 2023 elections.
Without a detailed breakdown and party verification process, the figures remain contested in public debate.
