No fewer than 7,200 delegates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will converge at the Eagle Square in Abuja for an elective National Convention that will usher in a new set of members of the party’s highest administrative organ – the National Working Committee (NWC) to emerged.
The gathering would afford the ruling party a platform to ratify its leadership structure, affirm the outcomes of all the congresses and take major decisions concerning its internal affairs. It will also consider amendment of some sections of the party’s constitution in line with the present day realities and the need to meet it’s status as the nation’s largest and the governing party.
Exactly four years and two days ago a similar ritual was conducted at the same venue. Members of the NWC were elected to serve for four years.
Nasarawa State former governor, Senator Abdullahi Adamu was elected and inaugurated as the National Chairman of the party on March 26, 2022, along with 24 other NWC members at the convention.
Adamu with his co-NWC members emerged through a consensus arrangement, which saw many aspirants and contenders stepping down for them. But in a dramatic turn of event the former Nasarawa State governor, the then National Secretary of the party, Senator Iyiola Omisore and National Legal Adviser, Barr. Ahmed El’Marzuk resigned from office on the 16th of July 2023.
This development gave birth to the emergence of the immediate past Kano State governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Senator Ajibola Surajudeen Basiru and Prof. Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana (SAN) as National Chairman, National Secretary and National Legal Adviser respectively on the 3rd of August, 2023, while other members retained their positions.
READ ALSO:
- Kwankwaso, Obi, Dickson meeting surprises Kano APC
- N868m fraud: Court sentences Nwabuoku, ex-accountant-general to 72 years in prison
Ganduje however in June 2025 threw in his towel from the party’s exalted seat due to ill health. Political watchers however argued that Ganduje’s exit was a strategic move to ease internal tensions and reposition the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The emergence of the then Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda as the successor of Ganduje sent many off balance. The Plateau State born academic turned politician was elected by consensus on July 24, 2025 during the party’s 14th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja to complete the four-year term of the outgoing NWC.
Many political pundits expressed doubt on the “strength” and pedigree of a “greenhorn” to pilot the affairs of Africa’s largest party at such a critical period and ahead of the 2027 general elections, but the former APC Plateau State gubernatorial candidate has proved the naysayers wrong. Under his watch, the party has recorded and still recording impressive progress and wide acceptance, leading to massive defection of opposition elements in both the executive and legislative arms of government across the length and breath of the country into the party.
With the four-year term of the present NWC drawing to an end, Prof. Yilwatda-led NWC on February 25, 2026 inaugurated a 92-member National Convention Central Coordinating Committee (NCCCC), chaired by former Katsina Governor Aminu Bello Masari, in Abuja to organize and deliver a transparent and successful National Convention.
Other eminent members of the committee include former Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim as Vice Chairman I and the Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as Vice Chairman II, one time Caretaker Committee Chairman and former National Secretary of the party, Yobe State governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni was appointed to serve as Secretary while Chairman of Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) and Imo State governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma ad Treasurer.
Committed to deliver on his assignment, Masari at the committee’s inaugural meeting pledged to set a template for future conventions.
“The expectation of Nigerians, the people and the President is that we produce the best convention ever. We are also expected to establish a template for future APC conventions, and with the calibre of individuals on this committee, that expectation is almost assured,” he said.
Masari, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, pledged the committee’s readiness to work closely with the party’s NWC and other relevant organs to ensure a successful convention, he also promised the committee would operate with fairness, transparency and objectivity, in order to ensure that the party emerges stronger and more united ahead of the 2027 general elections.
While the aspirants haggle over positions, the “machinery” of the convention has been in full swing. The sub-committees ranging from media and publicity, accommodation and transportation, ceremony and venues to security and aspirants screening committees, are working to ensure a hitch free, credible and widely acceptable convention.
Election of NWC members
Being an elective convention many party faithful are set to contest for the various positions in the NWC, a development that has set some incumbent officers in the NWC on panic mode.
The Nation Investigation revealed that, but for a few members of the NWC who are nursing governorship and federal legislative positions, majority of them are jostling to retain their positions. They are however walking on a delicate tightrope. Though the party recently reaffirmed its existing zoning arrangement, a move designed to douse regional tensions, it is still not a done deal for some of the NWC members.
A statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, penultimate Monday in Abuja reads: “As contained in the published All Progressives Congress (APC) 2026 Schedule of Nationwide Congresses, National Convention, and Related Activities, the existing zoning arrangement for National working Committee positions across states within the geo-political zones remains valid and applicable to the upcoming for National Convention.
“All aspirants seeking national offices are expected to strictly adhere to the established zoning framework to promote balance and internal party stability,” Morka stated.
Even as it is on paper, the NWC members are still at the mercy of their governors, especially those from states with newly defected governors. Many of them, especially those whose state governors just defected have relocated to their states trying to realign with the new “Sheriffs” in their states. In less than 48 hours majority of them will know their fate, as feelers from the states have it that the governors want to have ‘their own” in the NWC.
The Governors: The Field Commanders
Over time, the governors through its platform, the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), led by Imo State governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, have emerged as the most potent pressure group of the party. With their near to absolute powers over delegates to the convention, and their “surreptitious” move by the state chief executives to control virtually all the organs of the party, they (the governors) remain a factor in determining who gets what and who out of incumbent NWC members return to Muhammadu Buhari House after convention.
The President’s factor
In all these high-stakes power play, the role of the party’s National Leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains critical. It is on record that the President has remain neutral and has been playing the role of father-to-all since the commencement of the various Congresses from ward to local government, state and the ongoing Zonal congress today (Wednesday 25th March). This development, political watchers said accounted for the hitch free Congresses conducted so far by the party since the exercise started last month.
For the President, the stability of the party is his primary goal. An informed source within the party hierarchy said that the President is committed to and keen on a “no-surprise” convention that reinforces his Renewed Hope agenda. Adding that he may also favours a “consensus” model to prevent internal fractures that could be exploited by an emerging opposition.
Constitution Amendment
Another milestone event at the convention is the ratification and adoption of the amendment to the party’s constitution.
Having conducting series of public hearing in the six geo-political zones of the country and collected memoranda from party members and other stakeholders on sections of the party’s constitution to be reviewed and amended, the Gov. Mai Mala Buni-led APC Constitution Amendment Committee inaugurated at the February 26th 2025 National Executive Committee meeting is expected to present for ratification and adoption the proposed amendment to the party’s constitution at the convention.
To many political watchers, the convention is more than a leadership change; it is a litmus test for the APC’s survival as a cohesive unit. With the Zonal Congresses taking place today, March 25, the outcomes will provide the final blueprint for the “Big Show” at Eagle Square on Friday.
The stage is set, Abuja is set to host the over 7,000 delegates, the political atmosphere is heightened as the nation’s most powerful actors gather to shape the party’s trajectory ahead of the 2027 general elections.
