President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recorded a sweeping victory in the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary in Ebonyi State on Saturday, securing all 207,579 valid votes cast across the 13 local government areas of the state, while his rival, Stanley Osifo, failed to secure a single vote.
The exercise, conducted simultaneously across 171 wards and 13 local government areas, witnessed massive participation by party faithful and leaders, further underscoring the dominance of the APC in the state.
Announcing the results in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State Governor and State Collation Officer, Chief Francis Nwifuru, disclosed that the party had a total membership strength of 215,490, out of which 207,579 members were accredited and participated in the voting exercise.
According to the declared results, Tinubu polled 15,673 votes in Abakaliki Local Government Area, 10,718 in Afikpo North, 10,713 in Ohaozara, 16,413 in Ebonyi, 11,694 in Edda, 11,928 in Ohaukwu, 19,088 in Ezza South, 19,341 in Ikwo, 17,501 in Izzi, 8,406 in Ivo, 19,160 in Ishielu, 25,453 in Ezza North, 18,300 in Afikpo South and 13,896 in Onicha Local Government Area.
Nwifuru certified the outcome as a true and accurate reflection of the results collated from across the state, commending party members for what he described as a peaceful, transparent and orderly exercise.
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, while addressing party faithful during the primary at Umunaga Ward in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area, expressed confidence that President Tinubu would completely tackle Nigeria’s insecurity challenges within the next five years if re-elected in 2027.
Umahi described Ebonyi as a stronghold of the APC, insisting that the people of the state had resolved to remain loyal to the ruling party and the Tinubu administration.
“Ebonyi State is totally APC. We are only APC,” the minister declared, adding that there was practically no opposition presence in Ohaozara Local Government Area.
He said the massive turnout of party members for the primary election demonstrated the confidence and trust Nigerians reposed in President Tinubu’s leadership and reform agenda.
According to Umahi, the Tinubu administration has succeeded in integrating the South-East into the mainstream of national politics through strategic appointments and key infrastructure projects spread across the region.
“Bola Tinubu is the Biafra we have been looking for; a man who has integrated the South-East, given us juicy appointments and very important infrastructure,” he stated.
The former Ebonyi State governor also defended the economic reforms introduced by the Federal Government, acknowledging that although the policies initially came with hardship, they had ultimately stabilised the nation’s economy.
“I laugh when people talk about the hardship caused by the reforms. Nobody has been able to say where Nigeria would have been without them,” Umahi said.
He maintained that the nation had crossed its most difficult economic phase and expressed optimism that the benefits of the reforms would soon trickle down to ordinary Nigerians at the grassroots.
“The macroeconomy is stable and the President is now taking it down to the microeconomy. The worst is over and Nigerians will soon begin to see the benefits,” he added.
Umahi further commended the ongoing federal road and bridge projects across the country, describing them as clear evidence of the Tinubu administration’s commitment to rebuilding critical national infrastructure and stimulating economic growth.
Party officials and stakeholders including member representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency, Comrade Chinedu Ogah, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Development in Southeast zone, among others at the exercise hailed the conduct of the primary, describing Tinubu’s overwhelming victory as a strong signal of the APC’s preparedness ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Victor Nwegede
