In a pointed rebuttal to a longstanding political claim, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has publicly dismissed assertions made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu regarding the 2015 election victory of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Tinubu, who made the controversial statement in 2022 while campaigning as a presidential aspirant, had claimed he was instrumental in making Buhari Nigeria’s president, suggesting his efforts were decisive in Buhari’s electoral success.
However, Mustapha has now pushed back on this narrative, clarifying that the 2015 electoral outcome was primarily driven by Buhari’s entrenched support base in Northern Nigeria. Speaking on the dynamics of the political coalition that led to the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mustapha emphasized that the party merger only contributed an additional three million votes.
“In truth, Buhari already commanded a solid bloc of 12 million votes from the North, which he had consistently demonstrated in previous elections. The merger was impactful, but it didn’t create Buhari’s popularity—it added about three million votes to what he already had,” Mustapha stated.
His remarks underscore a growing tension within APC historical narratives, as key figures begin to redefine the roles they played in Nigeria’s 2015 political transformation.
This rebuttal from Mustapha not only challenges Tinubu’s portrayal of the events but also shines a light on the deep-rooted electoral support Buhari enjoyed independently of any political alliance.
