Tunde Bakare, a former All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, said he lost the party's ticket in the primary because he refused to compromise his ideals.
Mr. Bakare spoke during the Citadel Global Community Sunday service he founded in Ikeja, Lagos. He received no votes in the party's presidential primary held June 6-8 in Abuja's Eagle's Square.
Bola Tinubu, former governor of Lagos and national leader of the party, beat all other candidates on the list and received 1,217 delegate votes. Rotimi Amaechi, former Transport Minister, and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who finished second and third, received 316 and 235 votes, respectively.
Mr. Bakare, Rochas Okorocha, former Governor of Imo; Ikeobasi Mokelu, Former Minister of Communications; and Tein JackRich the industrialist all received zero votes. Each of the presidential candidates paid 100 million naira for the right to vote.
On Sunday, Mr. Bakare received a standing ovation from his audience."We didn't compromise on the values that are important to build a new Nigeria," he explained of why he lost.
He further said, "We will use our zero vote as a zero tolerance badge." Mr. Bakare insisted in front of the cheering crowd few months back that he would be elected president on May 29, 2023. His remarks drew further applause from the audience.