Abati Declares Tinubu Owner of Nigerian Politics After APC Primary Win
Former presidential aide Reuben Abati has described President Bola Tinubu’s overwhelming success at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary as a clear signal that he “owns the game” of Nigerian politics.
Abati noted that Tinubu secured a massive margin over his sole challenger, Stanley Osifo, garnering roughly 11 million votes while Osifo managed only a few thousand. The former aide said this outcome sends a strong political message to opposition parties preparing for the 2027 general elections.
According to Abati, any opposition candidate hoping to win will need to surpass the 11‑million‑vote threshold already recorded for Tinubu within his own party. He added that the result creates a “demonstration effect” for rivals such as Dumebi Kachikwu, Atiku Abubakar, or any other contender seeking to prove their relevance on the electoral register.
He went on to suggest that the country should consider establishing a “Tinubu school of politics and strategy” to study the tactics that delivered such a decisive victory. Abati praised the maneuver as smart and clever, even if some critics view it as overly dominant.
Abati also acknowledged that the APC primary process was not free of controversy. He pointed to protests and disagreements over the adoption of consensus and direct primaries in various states, which complicated the vote‑counting exercise despite the overall outcome.
In his view, the episode underscores the need for opposition parties to rethink their strategies and mobilise far larger support bases if they hope to challenge Tinubu’s political ascendancy in the next election cycle.
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