Tinubu Didn’t Win 2015 for Buhari — Boss Mustapha Claims Only 3 Million Votes Came from Him

Boss Mustapha Discredits Tinubu’s Role in Buhari’s 2015 Victory, Says He Delivered Only 3 Million Votes

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has dismissed the widely circulated belief that President Bola Tinubu played a decisive role in Muhammadu Buhari’s historic 2015 presidential win.

 

Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday during the launch of “According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesman’s Experience,” Mustapha declared that Tinubu’s contribution to Buhari’s victory was marginal in terms of vote numbers.

 

TJ News Nigeria reports that the event drew high-profile attendees, including former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon (rtd.), immediate past Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and current SGF George Akume, who represented President Tinubu.

 

Mustapha told the audience that Buhari’s northern support base had long been the cornerstone of his electoral strength, citing consistent figures from previous elections.

 

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“The 2013 merger was orchestrated to establish a Buhari presidency. Let’s be factual. In 2003, Buhari had 12.7 million votes; in 2007, 6.6 million; and in 2011, 12.2 million again,” Mustapha said.

 

He argued that the merger of Buhari’s Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) with Tinubu’s Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and other smaller factions contributed only an additional three million votes.

 

“When you total the figures after the merger, the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured about 15.4 million votes in 2015. The non-Buhari contribution was just three million. So, to say someone delivered the presidency is a stretch,” he emphasized.

 

He credited Buhari’s personal credibility, integrity, and disciplined communication style as key factors that resonated with Nigerians across the North and beyond.

 

TJ News Nigeria learnt that Mustapha also used the occasion to highlight Buhari’s conduct during his medical absences, saying those moments reflected the former president’s leadership character.

 

“Those politically sensitive periods showed Buhari’s leadership philosophy — calm, measured, and respectful of constitutional order,” he noted.

 

On the broader dynamics that led to the APC’s formation, Mustapha acknowledged Tinubu’s and other leaders’ roles in the merger process but stressed that the initiative was largely driven by Buhari’s commitment to national unity.

 

“In early 2013, Buhari, then CPC leader, formally supported the idea of a merger. His involvement, along with leaders like Tinubu and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, gave the process credibility and direction,” he added.

 

Mustapha’s comments come amid increasing scrutiny of the historical narrative surrounding the 2015 election and the roles played by key political actors. His remarks may reignite debates within APC ranks as political positioning continues ahead of future elections.