President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday reflected on internal disagreements during the early days of the All Progressives Congress (APC), revealing a notable clash with then-General Muhammadu Buhari over the party’s logo.
Speaking at the Presidential Villa in Abuja during a courtesy visit by The Buhari Organisation, led by former Nasarawa State Governor Senator Tanko Al-Makura, Tinubu recounted the tense yet formative merger talks that birthed the APC in 2013.
“We disagreed to agree,” Tinubu said with a smile. “We even argued about a symbol. He (Buhari) insisted on a parliament, and I insisted on the broom. He’s so stubborn.”
The visit included prominent northern leaders such as Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda and former Governor Aminu Masari, signalling a possible effort to consolidate the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
The APC emerged in February 2013 through the merger of four opposition parties: the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Tinubu, then ACN’s National Leader and former Lagos State Governor, played a key role alongside Buhari, who led the CPC.
Tinubu said differing political cultures created friction during the registration process with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Ultimately, the broom symbolizing unity and collective action against poor governance was adopted as the party’s official logo.
The successful merger led to APC’s historic victory in 2015, ending the 16-year rule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and bringing Buhari to power.
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