ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- President Bola Tinubu on Sunday extended an olive branch to his sole challenger in the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary, Stanley Osifo, saying that he held no grudge against him despite the contest.
The President also signalled readiness to engage critics and political opponents through dialogue rather than confrontation.
Tinubu spoke in Abuja after he was officially declared the APC presidential candidate for the 2027 election with 10.9 million votes during the party’s nationwide primary exercise.
Addressing party leaders and supporters at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, the President said democracy thrives on diversity of opinions and constructive engagement.
“To those who despise our philosophy, we offer dialogue and engagement, not anger, confident that the sincerity of our purpose and the result of our work will speak for themselves,” Tinubu said.
He also addressed Osifo directly, praising him for participating in the process despite the outcome.
“I owe you no grudge, including Osifo, who spent his money,” the President stated.
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Osifo, a businessman from Edo State, had purchased the APC presidential nomination form for N100 million and remained in the race after a proposed consensus arrangement within the party reportedly collapsed.
He eventually polled 16,503 votes nationwide in the primary election.
Tinubu further stressed that disagreement among political actors should not be viewed as a threat to democracy.
“You may be angry with our party, we don’t have to agree. Democracy is sustained not by uniformity but by diversity, by a shared belief in the nation, and the blending of ideas,” he said.
The President’s remarks came shortly after the conclusion of the APC presidential primaries held across the country ahead of the 2027 general election.