ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, reflected on the internal debates that shaped the creation of the All Progressives Congress (APC), revealing that he once clashed with then-General Muhammadu Buhari over the choice of the party’s logo.
Speaking at the Presidential Villa during a courtesy visit by members of The Buhari Organisation, led by former Nasarawa governor Tanko Al-Makura, Tinubu recalled that merger talks leading to the APC’s registration in 2013 were far from smooth.
“We disagreed to agree… We even argued about a symbol. He (Buhari) insisted on parliament, and I insisted on broom. He’s so stubborn,” Tinubu said, drawing laughter from his guests.
The APC was officially formed in February 2013 through the merger of four opposition parties: the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Tinubu, who had been national leader of the ACN and governor of Lagos State, championed the broom as the party’s symbol, describing it as a metaphor for unity and collective action against corruption and poor governance.
Buhari, then leading the CPC, favoured the symbol of a parliament to reflect institutional strength.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) eventually registered the APC with the broom as its emblem, now one of the most recognisable political logos in Nigeria.
Tuesday’s meeting was also attended by Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda and former governor Aminu Masari
