APC National Convention Set to Address Zoning, Consensus, and Tinubu's Re-election Bid
All is set for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to hold its highly anticipated national convention today, with significant decisions expected to shape the party's strategy for the 2027 general elections. As the party's highest decision-making body, the convention follows recently concluded ward, local government, state, and zonal congresses nationwide, culminating in the official endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term.
Delegates and Key Stakeholders Gather
President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, governors, federal and state lawmakers, state party chairmen, members of the National Working Committee (NWC), former governors, ex-party chairmen, and other key stakeholders will be among the 8,453 delegates expected at Eagles Square in Abuja, the venue of the convention. The political future of President Tinubu, particularly his re-election prospects in 2027, is at the heart of discussions. Although Tinubu has not formally declared his intention to seek a second term, party insiders indicate that the issue will feature prominently, likely concluding with a positive affirmation for the president to continue his reforms and governance efforts.
Defense of Zoning and Consensus
Chairman of the National Convention Central Coordination Committee, Aminu Bello Masari, defended the party's decision to restrict certain offices to specific geopolitical zones, describing it as a strategic necessity to ensure national balance and party stability. He warned that individuals attempting to purchase forms for offices not zoned to their regions were likely agents of confusion. APC is a responsible party. In line with federal character, all offices are zoned. If you are contesting for an office that is not zoned to your zone, how can you say you are being democratic? We suspect these kinds of people are interested in destroying our party, which we will not agree to, Masari declared.
Responding to rumors of potential litigation over the zoning formula, the former Katsina governor noted that the party had not been served any court processes. If we are served, we will take notice of that. You can only hold something that you have, he added. Minister of Information Mohammed Idris addressed concerns about the convention's budget, explaining that the party is using a self-adjusting budgetary mechanism to manage resources effectively.
Logistical and Security Measures
To ensure a hitch-free exercise, the Federal Government has instructed civil servants based at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja to work remotely today. An official circular signed by Abdul Garba, Permanent Secretary of the Service Welfare Office, on behalf of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, announced that several access routes around the Federal Secretariat Complex—covering Phases I, II, and III—will be shut from Friday, March 27, through Saturday, March 28, 2026, due to the event. Authorities explained that the road closures are necessary because of activities scheduled at Eagle Square.
Election of New National Officers
Another major highlight of the convention will be the election of a new crop of national officers to steer the party's affairs. The exercise is expected to reaffirm the APC's leadership structure ahead of the 2027 elections. The party has concluded the screening of aspirants vying for positions within the National Working Committee (NWC), with about 30 aspirants assessed by the National Convention Aspirants' Screening Committee, chaired by Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji. Among those cleared are the party's National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, and National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, alongside 28 others. Reports indicate that most NWC members are contesting unopposed, suggesting a consensus-driven approach to leadership selection.
Key Agenda Items
Party sources disclosed that the convention is also billed to ratify timelines for the party's primaries for presidential, governorship, and National Assembly elections, in line with guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It will also decide the mode of primaries. INEC has fixed April 23 to May 30, 2026, as the window within which all political parties must conduct their primaries, imposing a tight schedule.
- Campaign Financing: Another critical issue on the agenda is campaign financing, particularly for the presidential election.
- Defectors and Automatic Tickets: The influx of high-profile defectors into the APC is another sensitive topic, with internal concerns over allegations that some defectors were promised automatic tickets as part of negotiations. This issue is likely to generate heated debate as stakeholders weigh accommodating new entrants against rewarding loyalty and maintaining internal cohesion.
- Digital Membership Register: Party officials revealed that one major agenda item is the review of the party's electronic membership registration and the planned submission of its digital register to INEC. The digital register, capturing verified membership data nationwide, is considered critical to strengthening internal party processes and enhancing transparency. Failure to meet the April 2, 2026, deadline for submission could result in severe consequences, including exclusion from the 2027 general elections.
Response to Opposition Criticism
Meanwhile, a former Director General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu, has accused leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) of sowing the seed of a one-party state, saying they are entrenching it through actions that undermine Nigeria's multi-party democracy. Speaking to journalists in Enugu, Okechukwu dismissed as unfounded statements by ADC leaders that the APC is fostering a one-party state. He argued that the current ADC leadership, led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, should be held accountable for this trend, tracing it to the 2022 PDP presidential primary where the zoning convention was breached.
Okechukwu described the zoning principle as a foundational element of Nigeria's Fourth Republic, designed to promote unity, equity, inclusion, and national cohesion. Equity, justice, and embodiment of a sense of belonging are the metaphor of zoning convention, which remains the foundation for the unity, peace, and prosperity of the country, he emphasized, citing historical precedents to justify its importance.
