Tinubu says he went to "war" to make sure Buhari was elected president.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), stated on Thursday that President Muhammadu Buhari would not have been elected president in 2015 if it had not been for him.

Tinubu addressed APC delegates at the Presidential Lodge in Abeokuta, the state capital, ahead of the party's primary.

Tinubu was escorted to the state by Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos State Governor, Umar Ganduje, and Kasim Shettima, the former governor of Borno State.

"If it hadn't been for me leading the war front, Buhari wouldn't have emerged," he remarked of Buhari's election. He competed in the first, second, and third rounds, but lost all three times. He even stated on television that he will not run for office again.

"But I went to his house in Katsina and told him that you would compete and win, but you would not joke with Yoruba issues."

I have not been named Minister since his appearance. I didn't obtain a contract, and I didn't ask for one. It's Yoruba's turn this time, and it's my reign in Yorubaland."

"I wanted to run for president since the time we started with the Action Congress, Action Congress of Nigeria, and now the All Progressives Congress," he added.

This is me telling you that Buhari has asked me to be his Vice President, and it is between me and God Almighty. He claimed that the first time he ran, he chose Okadigbo, who is flashy and catholic, but Nigerians did not vote for him. "But you, Bola Tinubu, you have six governors, you have never lost an election before, come and be my vice," he said, referring to the fact that when he chose another Igbo, Omesioke, Nigerians did not vote for him. "But you, Bola Tinubu, you have six governors, you have never lost an election before, come and be my vice."

"He understood all the calculations at the time were in our favour, which is why he wanted me as his vice president, but I persuaded him to wait until we built the party first." And when we finished building the party after bringing in people from the PDP, Saraki realised that if Buhari, a Muslim, becomes president and me, also a Muslim, becomes his vice president, he won't get the senate president, and the senate president cannot be a Muslim, and that's how the calumny campaign against me began. And I assured them that I had a Christian candidate that I can nominate to keep the party together, which is how Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was nominated. I gave up my right to him (Osinbajo).

"I was requested to submit three names: Yemi Cardozo, Wale Edun, and Yemi Osinbajo, but I warned them that if I submit three names, they'll play a game and choose the fourth one." "I only gave them one name: Osinbajo."

"It is my time, I'm educated, I'm experienced," he stated, explaining why he is the best choice among other hopefuls in the South West. I've been helping people for a long time; now it's my turn to be president."