President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken a decisive step to address internal conflicts within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) by inaugurating a high-level committee tasked with strategy, conflict resolution, and mobilisation. This move comes as the party prepares for the crucial 2027 general elections and aims to solidify its dominance amidst growing internal discord.
A Committee for Cohesion and Strategy
The inauguration ceremony took place in Lagos on Wednesday, December 24, 2025. The newly formed Committee on Strategy, Conflict Resolution and Mobilisation is designed to strengthen party unity, resolve lingering disputes, and develop a unified plan for voter outreach. Its composition reflects a broad cross-section of the party's power structure, including serving governors, federal ministers, and key stakeholders from across Nigeria.
Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State was appointed as the committee's Chairman, with former APC National Legal Adviser, Muiz Banire, serving as Secretary. Other prominent members include:
- Senator Adamu Aliero
- NGF Chairman and Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq
- PGF Chairman and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma
- Governors Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Bassey Otu (Cross River), Abiodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), and Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta)
- Governors Uba Sani (Kaduna) and Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers)
- Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola
- Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle
- Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello
In his remarks, Governor Buni pledged that the committee would handle its assignment with utmost responsibility. He stated that the body would undertake wide-ranging consultations to create an inclusive and durable framework for managing party affairs. "We shall implement a system that gives everyone, especially aggrieved parties, a sense of belonging and inclusion, with a renewed hope," Buni said, while cautioning members against letting personal interests undermine the party's collective goals.
Tinubu's Call for Tolerance and Opposition Warning
This committee's formation follows President Tinubu's strong appeal for unity during the APC's 15th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on December 19 in Abuja. At that meeting, the President reminded party leaders that the APC was founded on principles of progressive politics and inclusiveness. He warned that internal intolerance could weaken the party's democratic standing, urging members to be accommodating and resilient.
However, the ruling party's efforts at consolidation have drawn criticism from the opposition. Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, issued a stark warning, comparing the APC to a boat being overloaded midstream. He made this statement during a Senate plenary session on Tuesday, shortly after two senators from Rivers State—Barinada Mpigi and Allwell Onyesoh—defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
Moro described the wave of defections to the ruling party as "a dangerous drift in Nigeria's democracy," arguing that such movements weaken the opposition and upset the democratic balance of power. "I find it a little unfortunate that the leader of the Senate is congratulating himself and his party on the dangerous drift of Nigeria's democracy. I insist that this is not good for democracy," Moro stated.
APC's Year-End Assessment and the Road to 2027
Amidst these political manoeuvres, the APC released its end-of-year assessment of the nation's state, praising President Tinubu's leadership. In a statement signed by the Lagos State APC Publicity Secretary, Seye Oladejo, the party claimed that 2025 marked a decisive turning point for Nigeria. It commended Tinubu for demonstrating uncommon courage and resolve in steering the country through difficult but necessary economic reforms, which it said confronted decades of mismanagement avoided by past administrations.
The inauguration of the strategy committee is clearly a strategic move to shore up internal stability as the political landscape begins to shift focus towards the 2027 elections. The party aims to present a united front, resolving grievances and crafting a compelling mobilisation narrative. Whether this committee can successfully heal the party's rifts and whether the opposition's warnings about an overloaded system prove prophetic will be key themes in Nigeria's political discourse in the coming months.
