Osifo concedes loss in APC primary, says divine will prevails

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Businessman and All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant, Stanley Osifo, has accepted defeat in the party’s primary election, saying the outcome will not affect his support for the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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Recall Osifo polled 16,503 votes against President Bola Tinubu’s 10,999,162 votes in the nationwide direct primary.

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“I think God knows better, and God knows tomorrow,” he said while speaking shortly after the collation and declaration at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja.

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He admitted dissatisfaction with the result but insisted he would continue working with the party and its candidate.

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“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,” Osifo said.

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He explained that his decision to purchase the N100 million nomination form was not driven by rivalry but part of the party’s internal democratic process.

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“We are one party, we are members of the All Progressives Congress, we are one family.

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“So we are not challenging ourselves. What we did was to have within ourselves who will become the candidate of the party.

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“So where we are now, we have that already today,” he said.

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Osifo also welcomed Tinubu’s earlier statement that he bore no grudges against him, describing it as a reflection of unity within the party.

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“That is why we are working together. We are one party, so we must work together. Nobody is an island.

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“Even if I had become the candidate today, I cannot work alone. I need a team.

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“So offering an olive branch is something that everybody would want to support the president for,” he added.

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Expressing gratitude to his supporters nationwide, Osifo said their efforts would not be forgotten despite the defeat.

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“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.

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“We have 36 states in Nigeria including the FCT, 37, and we have coordinators in all the states, in all the local governments, in all the wards. They have done marvellously well,” he said.

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Looking ahead, Osifo maintained optimism about his political future.

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“I am a very young man. I have a lot of years ahead of me, so it’s possible for things to happen.

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“But I think God knows better, and God knows tomorrow.

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“So let’s just hope on God and work as we move forward,” he added.

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