APC Primaries Winners Must Not Gloat In Victory – Tinubu

Bola Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has urged All Progressives Congress (APC) members to prioritize unity and sportsmanship as nationwide primaries commence. He recently had his say via a press statement, and Nigerians have been reacting.

Describing the exercise as a referendum on our unity, resilience and strength as a party, Tinubu warned against rancorous conduct that could undermine the party’s strength ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He concluded by cautioning winners against gloating while urging losers to show grace in defeat.

His words, “The primary elections, kicking off with those for House of Representatives aspirants tomorrow and culminating in the presidential primaries on May 25, 2026, are not mere exercises to produce our standard bearers.

They are a referendum on our unity, resilience and strength as a party. They present an opportunity to renew the bond and ideals that we share.

I urge us all to go into the primaries as brothers and sisters. All participants in the primaries, as contestants or voters, must keep the peace and be ready to play as sportsmen and women in the overall interest of the party and our country.

I urge the winners not to gloat in victory and the losers to show sportsmanship by taking things in their stride and preparing for another time.

The ultimate winners are those who don’t choose to wreck the boat but rather work to prepare for another round. Our opponents are waiting for us to be against each other; we should disappoint them.

Winners and party leaders at all levels should reach out to those who did not succeed with olive branches. We should not play the politics of old; the do-or-die politics that we have put behind us.

The inclusion of women and youth is dear to my heart. I appeal to voters in the primaries and leaders at all levels to give special consideration to our women and youth in the contest. We cannot afford to relegate the two significant demographics of our population.”

WOW.