If there were doubts before that President Bola Tinubu was the unseen hand pulling the strings of the gale of defections from opposition political parties into the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, those doubts vanished on Thursday at the National Summit of the party with the theme: “Renewed Hope Agenda: The Journey so far” where he gleefully gave his foot soldiers the marching order to “Sweep them clean”.
At the colourful and well attended event held at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja, President Tinubu confirmed speculations in the polity that he was the mastermind of the exodus of opposition members, especially governors and Federal lawmakers to the party at the centre.
Newsmata.com.ng recalls that the opposition parties had openly blamed the APC for poaching their members through inducements, blackmail or coercion and the president for pushing the country towards a one-party State by decimating the opposition.
Speaking at the national summit where he received several endorsements by the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, the 22 governors elected on the platform of the APC, and the National Assembly leadership as the sole presidential candidate for the 2027 elections, President Tinubu chided critics that it’s one party that is ruling and driving the aspirations of Nigerians.
Visibly in high spirit, Tinubu said, “Before I speak, I just need to tell those saying one party system is not good. It’s one party ruling and driving the aspirations of Nigerians. Where do they stand?
“You don’t blame a people bailing out of a sinking ship when there is no life jacket. I am glad about what we have, and I am expecting more to come. That is the game. We are in a constitutional democracy. Don’t forget the freedom of movement and association are not criminally punishable. Welcome to the progressives. Sweep them clean.”
Excited at his endorsement, the president assured that, “The endorsement today, the carry go expression, I know the road. We will lead you on to that promised land. The resuscitation of the Nigerian economy is on course. The hope is standing before you, take it on.
“You are the leaders and the conscience of this country. Nigeria will be industrialised. The next two years will be great. We have a mission, and we have a vision. To many of you I have not offered political positions, be patient, many things are coming”.
Opening the floodgate of endorsements was the 22-member Progressives Governors’ Forum, PGF, led by Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma, which passed a confidence vote on the president.
Moving a motion for the adoption of Tinubu as the party’s sole presidential candidate in 2027, Governor Uzodimma thereafter put the motion to vote and it was unanimously adopted through voice vote by all participants and party chieftains including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Godswill Akpabio, Senate resident; members of the National Assembly, serving and former governors as well as APC members from across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
In his remarks, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Tajudeen Abbas described Tinubu’s economic reforms as “transformative”, emphasising that “Despite the initial pain, reforms have boosted public revenues, increased foreign reserves, and restored investor confidence. GDP growth is at its highest since 2015.”
Senate President Akpabio, in his speech, hinted of the much anticipated collapse of the PDP in his Akwa Ibom State, noting that the party is in disarray both in the South-South region and across other parts of the country.
Akpabio gloated: “All other political parties are in disarray. I went to my state and saw the PDP’s umbrella; it had over 100 holes.
“Very soon, you will hear the news, though it’s not my place to announce it. But I know the National Chairman has already hinted at it—everything (political structure) in the South-South has collapsed in your favour,” Akpabio told the president.
Putting a final seal on the endorsements as the national chairman of the party, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje said: “As the chairman of the party and as the only recognised platform to field a candidate in any election, I, hereby, affirm the endorsement of the President.”
Declaring Tinubu as the sole candidate of the APC in 2027, the former Kano State governor expressed the party’s commitment to securing future elections, especially at the 2027 poll, through fair, decisive, and strategic means.
Dr. Ganduje said, “As the chairman of the party and on behalf of the National Working Committee, the only recognised platform, I believe, legally, to field a candidate in any election, I hereby affirm the various endorsements and declare President Bola Tinubu as the sole presidential candidate of the APC.
“We are committed to winning fairly, decisively, and strategically. These off-season contests are not just about states; they are a reflection of our national momentum and a rehearsal for total victory in 2027.
“We have started early preparations for future elections, including local government and the upcoming off-cycle polls. Our approach is strategic and coordinated.
“We are training our party agents, policy think tanks, and campaign teams to be data-driven, result-oriented, and ethically grounded. This is not business as usual; this is a political machine under transformation.”
Boasting of the party’s victories in off-season elections in Kogi, Imo, Edo, and Ondo, Ganduje was confident that the APC would spare no effort in securing a win in the Osun governorship election.
According to him, “In the off-season elections recently held across key states, the APC demonstrated its strength, resilience, and growing national acceptance.
“Your Excellencies, during our National Caucus and National Executive Committee meetings, I have explained under the Renewed Hope mandate how the party secured a resounding victory in Imo, Kogi, Ondo and Edo States.
“Looking ahead, we are preparing rigorously for upcoming off-cycle elections in Anambra and Osun States, and we are not leaving anything to chance. The APC is deploying early engagement strategies by strengthening state chapters, training polling unit agents and legal teams, as well as mobilising youth and women at the grassroots.”
Mocking the PDP which had lost several of its members to the ruling party, Ganduje described it as a weakened opposition struggling for relevance in Nigeria’s political landscape, adding that it had been reduced to a shell of its former self, plagued by internal crises and bereft of ideological direction.
He said, “The opposition, especially the PDP, is gasping for breath. Leadership crisis, lack of ideology, and serial defections have reduced it to a shadow of its former self. The so-called largest party in Africa is now struggling to maintain relevance in Nigeria”.
The APC national chairman sent a strong message to the PDP that its long-standing control of the Federal Capital Territory was about to end as the APC was now strategically positioned to take over the FCT in future elections.
Ganduje said, “I would like to inform you that the FCT, for a long time, has been governed by an opposition party. We assure you, through our adept political dexterity and through our rigours, and through constructing various development bridges, we shall turn the tide in favor of our ruling party, the APC”.
Underscoring the party’s commitment to its founding values and development-driven agenda, Dr. Ganduje said conclusively, “Mr. President, sir, our doors remain open, but we are not compromising on dispelling all the progressive ideals on which this party was founded”.