Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, has dismissed the widespread claim that President Bola Tinubu played a decisive role in Muhammadu Buhari’s 2015 presidential victory.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday at the launch of According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesman’s Experience, Mustapha emphasized that Buhari’s consistent northern support base—not the merger with southern political allies—was the determining factor.
“I do not intend to stir up any controversy,” Mustapha stated before an audience that included former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd.), former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and current SGF George Akume, who represented President Tinubu at the event.
“The merger in 2013 was midwifed to create a Buhari presidency. Let us look at the statistics. In the 2003 election… Buhari recorded 12.7 million votes. In 2007, it came to 6.6 million, and it went back to 12.2 million in 2011.”
Mustapha argued that while the formation of the All Progressives Congress brought together several parties—most notably the Congress for Progressive Change, Action Congress of Nigeria, and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP)—the added value in terms of votes remained marginal.
He elaborated, “So, basically, what we brought to the table after the merger outside the Buhari 12.5 million votes was three million,” adding that, “President Buhari’s integrity, national stature, and disciplined messaging were central to that breakthrough.”
The former SGF also praised Buhari’s leadership during periods of medical absence while in office, noting that those episodes were “politically delicate” yet illustrative of the former president’s leadership style and character.
On the formation of the APC, Mustapha reflected on Buhari’s instrumental role: “In early 2013, as the leader of the CPC, Buhari formally requested and supported the creation of a merger committee… His endorsement and participation, along with other party leaders such as President Tinubu and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, lent credibility and direction to the merger, helping to unify disparate party factions under the banner of the APC.”
