President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday formally accepted the presidential ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress for the 2027 general election, promising to continue his administration’s economic reforms, improve security and expand infrastructure across the country.
Tinubu accepted the nomination during a major party gathering held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, where party leaders, governors, lawmakers and supporters endorsed him as the APC candidate for the January 2027 presidential election.
In a lengthy acceptance speech, the President said his administration had laid the foundation for economic recovery and national development and needed another term to complete ongoing reforms.
He described the moment as another important stage in Nigeria’s democratic journey and thanked party members for their continued support since he first emerged as the APC presidential candidate in 2022.
Tinubu recalled how he sat beside his predecessor, late former President Muhammadu Buhari, during the APC convention at Eagle Square in 2022 before emerging as the party’s flagbearer and later winning the presidential election.
According to him, the task before the APC in 2027 is not just about winning another election but consolidating ongoing reforms and strengthening the country’s democratic and economic institutions.
“I accept, with humility and profound gratitude, the nomination of our great party,” Tinubu declared.
The President used the speech to defend key economic decisions taken by his administration since assuming office in May 2023, especially the removal of fuel subsidy and reforms in the foreign exchange market.
The removal of petrol subsidy shortly after Tinubu assumed office triggered a sharp increase in fuel prices and transport costs across the country. Combined with the floating of the naira, the policies also contributed to inflation and rising living costs, leading to criticism from labour unions, opposition parties and many Nigerians struggling with the economic situation.
However, Tinubu insisted the reforms were necessary to save the economy from collapse and place the country on a path of long-term growth.
According to him, Nigeria is beginning to see positive signs, including stronger foreign reserves, improved revenue generation and renewed investor confidence.
He said his administration had moved away from “wasteful fuel subsidies, unstable exchange rates and weak infrastructure” and was now focusing on fiscal discipline and economic stability.
Tinubu also highlighted several achievements of his government in the areas of education, power, infrastructure and oil sector reforms.
On education, the President said the Nigerian Education Loan Fund established by his administration had disbursed over N282 billion to more than 1.5 million beneficiaries. The student loan programme was introduced to help students in tertiary institutions access education without financial hardship.
In the power sector, Tinubu said the government had supplied 2.5 million electricity meters through the Presidential Metering Initiative to reduce estimated billing, a major complaint among electricity consumers.
He added that the administration had also created a N4 trillion bond programme to clear debts owed to power generation and gas companies.
According to him, electricity generation under his administration had at times reached 6,000 megawatts, which he said was about 50 per cent higher than what his government inherited.
The President said the long-term plan of the government was to make the power sector more attractive to investors and capable of delivering stable electricity to homes and industries.
Tinubu also spoke extensively on infrastructure projects being executed across the country. He said the government was constructing durable roads and superhighways, including the coastal highway project and the Sokoto-Badagry road corridor.
He added that efforts were also ongoing to modernise airports and seaports while attracting fresh investments into the oil and gas sector.
According to him, the oil industry, which had struggled with declining investments in recent years, was beginning to recover because of reforms introduced by his administration.
Despite defending his economic policies, Tinubu admitted that many Nigerians were still facing hardship due to rising prices and economic adjustments.
“Many Nigerians still struggle with rising costs and economic adjustment. We do not dismiss these concerns,” he said.
The President also addressed insecurity, which remains one of the major challenges facing the country. Over the years, Nigeria has battled terrorism in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, kidnapping in several regions and attacks by armed groups in different parts of the country.
Tinubu assured Nigerians that his administration remained committed to restoring peace and security nationwide.
He said the government had increased investment in intelligence gathering, surveillance technology and modern security equipment while supporting the armed forces and the police.
The President also renewed his support for the creation of state police, urging the National Assembly to amend the Constitution to make it possible.
“We will not rest until we restore peace and stability to every corner of our country,” he said.
Tinubu further called for unity among Nigerians, stressing that ethnic and religious differences should not divide the country.
Referring to the revived national anthem, he said Nigerians must continue to stand together despite differences in tribe and language.
The President appealed to opposition politicians and critics to work with his administration in the interest of national development, saying democracy thrives through dialogue and diversity of ideas.
He warned Nigerians against voting for politicians without clear alternative plans for the country, insisting that the APC government had already made “giant steps forward.”
Tinubu promised that if re-elected in 2027, his administration would focus on economic expansion, industrialization, food security, infrastructure development, energy stability and democratic consolidation.
He also pledged to build a more inclusive government that would listen to Nigerians and create opportunities for youths, workers, farmers and businesses.
The APC’s endorsement of Tinubu for a second term is expected to shape the political atmosphere ahead of the 2027 general election. While the ruling party has continued to defend the President’s reforms, opposition parties are expected to challenge his record on inflation, unemployment, insecurity and the rising cost of living.
For now, Tinubu and the APC appear determined to present continuity as the central message of their 2027 campaign, with the President insisting that the reforms already introduced must be sustained to secure Nigeria’s future.