NIGERIA– Businessman and APC presidential aspirant, Stanley Osifo, has broken his silence after losing the All Progressives Congress presidential primary to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the outcome would not stop him from supporting the Party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking shortly after the collation and official declaration of results at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, Osifo admitted he was unhappy with the outcome but insisted he remained committed to the APC.
“I think God knows better, and God knows tomorrow,” he said.
Osifo secured 16,503 votes in the nationwide direct primary conducted across 8,809 wards on Saturday, while Tinubu polled a massive 10,999,162 votes to clinch the Party’s ticket.
Asked whether he was satisfied with the result, Osifo replied: “I’m not okay with the outcome of the results. And I’m working with the Party, I’m working with the candidate of the Party as well. I have no problem with it.”
The APC contender explained that his decision to purchase the ₦100 million nomination form and challenge Tinubu was never driven by personal rivalry, but by the democratic process within the ruling Party.
“We are one Party, we are members of the All Progressives Congress, we are one family,” he said.
“So we are not challenging ourselves. What we did was to have within ourselves who will become the candidate of the Party.”
Responding to Tinubu’s earlier comment that he held no grudge against him, Osifo said the feeling was mutual.
“That is why we are working together. We are one Party, so we must work together. Nobody is an island,” he stated.
He added that even if he had emerged victorious, he would still have needed the support of others to succeed.
“Even if I had become the candidate today, I cannot work alone. I need a team,” Osifo said.
The politician also thanked supporters across the country for standing by him throughout the contest.
“My supporters that voted for me, including those clapping for me, I want to deeply express my gratitude to them. It’s not been an easy task,” he said.
According to him, his campaign structure covered all 36 states and the FCT, with coordinators across local governments and wards.
Osifo, who described himself as a young man with many years ahead politically, said he remains optimistic about the future.
“But I think God knows better, and God knows tomorrow. So, let’s just hope on God and work as we move forward,” he added.
Osifo entered the race after an earlier consensus arrangement within the APC reportedly collapsed, making him the only aspirant to formally contest against Tinubu.
Reports indicated that he recorded zero votes in several states, including the FCT, Delta, Kogi, Ebonyi and Jigawa.
