President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has addressed the 4th Elective National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday, at the Eagles Square, Abuja, delivering a powerful message of unity, gratitude, unwavering commitment to national progress.
His speech, themed “Unity in Progress: Consolidating the Renewed Hope Agenda,” underscored the critical importance of cohesion within the party and the nation, especially in the face of ongoing challenges.
Tinubu commenced his address by expressing profound gratitude for divine grace and pride in the APC’s journey since its inception in 2013.
He highlighted the convention as a pivotal moment for the party to renew its bonds, strengthen its resolve, recommit to its foundational ideals. “Progress is impossible without unity,” he declared, emphasizing the core message of the convention’s theme.
Recalling the party’s origins, the President spoke of the bold decision thirteen years prior when patriots set aside political differences to rescue Nigeria from economic decline.
This historic unity, he noted, birthed a movement that irrevocably altered Nigeria’s political landscape.
He paid solemn tribute to the founding fathers, women, youth, and party faithful, as well as observing moments of silence for the late President Muhammadu Buhari and other departed leaders who contributed to the party’s foundation.
In a stern warning against internal discord, Tinubu asserted, “Our greatest strength has never been in our size or numbers, but our unity. Political parties do not fail only through electoral defeats. Often, they falter when ego overrides ideology or when ambition replaces discipline.”
He urged members to guard against tendencies where individual interests threaten the collective good, stressing that the convention must project a clear message of a strong, united, and future-ready party.
Tinubu reiterated that the APC was not merely a vehicle for political ambition but a catalyst for national transformation, aiming to build the country where governance is effective, institutions function, opportunities abound, security prevails, and poverty diminishes.
Addressing critics, the President clarified that the APC does not seek a one-party state, acknowledging the vital role of a credible opposition in refining policies and advancing statecraft.
However, he criticized opposition groups for their “constant attacks” on the Electoral Act 2026, defending its legislative scrutiny and passage as a reflection of Nigeria’s collective quest to strengthen its electoral system and consolidate democratic rule.
Tinubu affirmed the government’s commitment to upholding the rule of law, conducting credible elections, and protecting electoral integrity.
Reflecting on his administration’s mandate, Nigerian President highlighted the “Renewed Hope Agenda” as a governing philosophy rather than a mere campaign slogan.
He acknowledged the tough road to reform, requiring courage, patience, and difficult decisions. “No economy grows by sustaining wasteful subsidies or dysfunctional priorities. No future is built on perpetual self-denial,” he stated, assuring that current sacrifices are laying the groundwork for future prosperity.
Despite a complex global economic environment, including the “unanticipated blowout arising from the US-Israeli- Iranian War,” the President enumerated notable strides.
These include infrastructure development (superhighways, concrete-and-steel roads), modernization of seaports and airports, historic tax and fiscal policy reforms, social investment programs, and strengthened national security.
He also pointed to increased foreign exchange buffers, a booming stock market, growing GDP, consistent trade surpluses, declining inflation (to 14.45% for eight consecutive months), easing food prices, and improved business and investor confidence, particularly in the oil and gas sector.
Addressing persistent challenges, such as electricity supply and antiquated transmission infrastructure, the President announced plans for the Grid Asset Management Company (GAMCO) to inject approximately 1,600 megawatts into a new grid corridor.
He emphasized that the government’s programs are “real, visible, feasible, impactful, measurable, and not mere rhetoric,” signaling a transition from survival to stability and towards prosperity.
Tinubu specifically addressed the youth and women of Nigeria, recognizing their pivotal roles. He called for greater youth participation in decision-making and for nurturing a generation of “young progressives” who are intellectually grounded, morally disciplined, and nationally committed.
For women, he pledged wider spaces for leadership, policy influence, and shaping Nigeria’s democracy, acknowledging their calls for more leadership roles within the party and government.
Concluding his speech, President Tinubu urged delegates and stakeholders to conduct themselves with maturity, mutual respect, and integrity during the convention.
He tasked newly elected officials to carry their trust with humility, fairness, and unwavering commitment, inspiring confidence, strengthening unity, and delivering progress.
The President celebrated the party’s growth, evidenced by an unprecedented influx of new members, governors, and legislators, and charged the new leadership to sustain this expansive political structure through credible leadership and transparent party management.
Tinubu ended with a blessing for the APC and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, reaffirming his vision for a stronger, secure, and united nation.
