Now That APC Primaries Are All Over
By | Destiny Young
There are moments in politics when the noise fades, the dust settles, and the true strength of a party becomes clear. For the All Progressives Congress, that moment has arrived.
Now that the APC primaries are all over, one fact stands out clearly. The party has conducted one of the most peaceful, orderly and confidence-building primary exercises in recent political history. Across states, wards and local government areas, the process showed discipline, structure and a renewed sense of purpose among party members.
In Akwa Ibom State, the exercise carried special political weight. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu secured a commanding victory in the APC presidential primary, polling 389,197 votes across the 329 wards of the state. His challenger, Stanley Osifo, recorded no vote in the state.
But beyond the figures, the real story was the atmosphere.
The primaries were not defined by tension, intimidation or disorder. They were marked by participation, coordination and calm political engagement. Party faithful came out with a sense of belonging. Stakeholders played their roles. Officials supervised the process. The structure of the party held firm.
That is what gives the APC its strongest advantage going into the general election.
President Tinubu enters the next phase with the confidence of a party that has spoken loudly and clearly. His victory in the primaries confirms his place as the central political figure of the APC’s national campaign. It also strengthens the message that the party is prepared to defend its mandate, consolidate its policies and present itself again to Nigerians as the platform of continuity, reform and national stability.
For Akwa Ibom, Governor Umo Eno’s role in the exercise has added a new chapter to the state’s political direction. His public handling of the process reflected maturity, restraint and strategic leadership. He congratulated President Tinubu, commended APC members for their peaceful conduct and linked the turnout to the growing confidence of the people in the party’s direction in the state.
This matters because elections are not won only on voting day. They are won first through structure, trust and mobilisation. The APC in Akwa Ibom has shown that it can organise. It has shown that it can bring people together. It has shown that it can move from internal contests into a broader election with fewer distractions and stronger cohesion.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio also remains central to this political momentum. As one of the most influential APC figures from the South-South, his presence gives the party depth, reach and experience. His role as Senate President places Akwa Ibom at the heart of national power, while his political base continues to serve as a major pillar for the party’s growth in the state and region.
The combined presence of President Tinubu, Governor Umo Eno and Senator Godswill Akpabio gives the APC a powerful political triangle. Tinubu represents national leadership. Eno represents state-level consolidation and grassroots connection. Akpabio represents legislative influence, national access and long-tested political machinery.
Together, they give the party a clear road into the election.
The peaceful primaries have also sent a message to the opposition. The APC is not entering the contest wounded by internal conflict. It is not dragging itself out of a divided process. It is moving forward with renewed confidence, a clearer chain of command and a stronger sense of direction.
This is why the party is poised to go into the election strong.
Every serious election requires three things. A clear candidate. A functional structure. A motivated support base. The APC now has all three. President Tinubu has emerged with the backing of his party. Governor Umo Eno has shown that Akwa Ibom can deliver an organised political process. Senator Akpabio remains a strong national asset for mobilisation and strategic alignment.
The primaries are over. The real contest is ahead. But the APC has already crossed an important test. It has shown order where many expected crisis. It has shown unity where critics expected division. It has shown strength where opponents hoped to find weakness.
That is the story of this moment.
Now that the primaries are all over, the APC can turn fully to the electorate with one message: the party is ready, united and prepared for victory.
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Citp’ Destiny Young, FIIM, MCPN, serves as the Special Assistant (New Media & Digital Communication) to the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, H.E. Gov Umo Umo, PhD
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