Boss Mustapha, the immediate past Secretary to the Government of the Federation, has dismissed claims that Bola Tinubu was instrumental in Muhammadu Buhari’s 2015 victory, stating instead that the bulk of Buhari’s votes pre‑existed the All Progressives Congress (APC) coalition.
Speaking at the launch of Garba Shehu’s memoir, “According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience,” Mustapha explained that Buhari secured around 12.2 million votes from his own support base, while the merger of legacy parties added merely 3.2 million votes.
At the event, Mustapha emphasized the independent strength of Buhari’s candidacy: “When you sum up the total votes that gave us victory in 2015, the aggregate of the total votes was 15.4 million votes. So, basically, what we brought to the table, the other parties that were in the matter, in addition to Buhari’s 12.2 million votes, was 3.2 million votes.”
He used this point to challenge narratives crediting Tinubu and the APC coalition as the decisive factor.
Representing Tinubu at the ceremony, current SGF Senator George Akume echoed a narrative of continuity: “Nation building is a relay; the effort of one administration laid the foundation for the next.” Tinubu praised Buhari’s groundwork and promised to strengthen reform momentum.
READ MORE: “Buhari Wasn’t a Leader Who Merely Cut Ribbons and Took Pictures’’ — Garba Shehu Mocks Bola Tinubu
Mustapha’s assertions come amid discussions about campaign credit, legacy, and political strategy ahead of the 2027 election. If Buhari’s base remains potent, it raises fresh questions over Tinubu’s actual influence and the party’s cohesion.
The book launch also featured dignitaries, including former Head of State Yakubu Gowon, ex-VP Yemi Osinbajo, Atiku Abubakar, and former media adviser Femi Adesina. The memoir by Garba Shehu aims to chart the Buhari administration’s communications strategy and echo its legacy.
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