By Staff Reporter
Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to seek a second term in office after overwhelmingly winning the presidential nomination of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the country’s January 2027 elections.
Tinubu, who was first elected in 2023, officially cleared the party primaries on Saturday and is expected to be formally endorsed as the APC’s presidential candidate at a ceremony in Abuja on Sunday.
The APC described the primary process as a demonstration of internal democracy, although Tinubu faced only one challenger — businessman Stanley Osifo — who reportedly paid 100 million naira (about $73,000) to contest the nomination.
Tinubu enters the 2027 race as the early favourite, with the opposition struggling to unite and the APC strengthening its dominance across the country. The ruling party now controls 31 of Nigeria’s 36 states, up from 21 during the 2023 elections, largely due to a series of defections by opposition politicians.
During his first term, Tinubu introduced sweeping economic reforms aimed at stabilising Nigeria’s economy and restoring investor confidence. However, many Nigerians continue to face severe economic hardship.
Inflation surged to nearly 30 percent in 2024 before easing to around 15 percent in early 2026, while fuel prices have quadrupled over the past four years. According to the World Bank, nearly 60 percent of Nigerians are now living in poverty — an increase from when Tinubu first assumed office.
Several opposition parties are expected to hold their own primaries in the coming days as they prepare candidates to challenge Tinubu in the highly anticipated 2027 presidential election.
