A P C National Convention That Was Next To None.
All Progressives Congress, APC, in Nigeria held its 4th Elective National Convention from the night of Friday 27th to the morning of Saturday 28th of March, 2026.
Nigeria, in the course of her democracy, has witnessed many National Conventions, starting from her colonial political dispensation that featured such Political Parties as National Council of Nigeria And Cameroon, which later became National Council of Nigerian Citizens, NCNC, led by Engr Herbert Macaulay, and later succeeded by Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Action Group, A G, founded by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Nothern Peoples’ Congress, NPC, pioneered by Sir Ahmadu Bello, and many others. These Political Parties ushered in Nigeria’s Independence on 1st October, 1960, and Nigeria’s First Republic, 1963-1966.
Many other Political Parties had also existed in Nigeria during her Second Republic, 1979-1983, Third Republic, 1993, and in current Fourth Republic which is the longest in the annals of democratic governance in the country, having lasted about twenty-seven years, 1999-2026.
At the appropriate times during their existence, the different Political Parties, including Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and ALL Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, had their Conventionss. Conventions, which are done with pomp and pageantry, are always the climax of a well spaced out and statutorily regulated systematic processes of electing National Officers of the Party, Presidential Candidate of the Party or taking major decisions, such as amendment of the Party’s Constitution. It is always done with fanfare.
The recently-held Convention of All Progressives Congress, APC, was exceptionally classical. In the first instance, many critics had often expressed their opinion that with the unusual membership surge APC has experienced in the recent past, that the Party was headed towards implosion which they imagined could result from internal conflicts of interest.
Again, some political analysts had predicted that with extraordinary influx of Politicians from other Political Parties, especially the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which has swollen the number of Governors in the Party to thirty-one, and still counting, that crowd management would pose a serious challenge to the Organizers of the Convention. This apprehension became more intriguing when considered from the reality of insecurity in the North of Nigeria.
However, the leadership of the Party was very meticulous in putting all the necessary measures required for a hitch-free and successful Convention. The objective of the Convention was to elect National Officers of the Party. In order to achieve that, the Party, having conducted very free and credible Congressess at the Wards, Local Government Areas, Senatorial Districts, and Zonal levels, opted for Concensus for election of National Officers of the Party. Even at that, the Party made sure that Offices were equitably and fairly distributed according to geo-political zones. In each zone that an office was zoned to, Leaders in that zone met and collectively agreed on who became their choice for that position. Every position was harmonized through consensus, and that gave the Party the opportunity to produce her National Officers seamlessly.
Party Leaders entrusted with the responsibility of enhancing a successful National Convention, such as former Speaker of House of Representatives, and former Governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, who was Chairman of the Convention Planning Committee, Governor of Yobe State, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni, as Secretary, Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, as Chairman of Finance Sub-Committee, President of the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Godswill Akpabio, as Chairman of Ceremonial, Programme and Events Sub-committee, former Governor of Abia State, and Senator representing Abia-North in the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who was Chairman of Screening Sub-Committee, Team B, for aspirants wishing to occupy Party Offices, Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives, The Rt Honourable Benjamin Okezie Kalu, as Co-Chairman of Digital and New Media Sub-committee, and others, were assiduous in the discharge of their responsibilities. They gave their best, and their best was good enough.
Through Consensus, the Party effectively returned many of her former National Officers, such as; (1) Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, as National Chairman,
(2) Senator Sarajudeen Ajibola Basiru, as National Secretary,
(3) Chief Uguru Mathew Ofoke, as National Treasurer,
(4) Barr Felix Morka, as National Publicity-Secretary, and
(5) Hon Donatus Enyinnah Nwankpa, as National Welfare Secretary.
It was remarkably of interest that there was no visible security challenge in Abuja all through the duration of the National Convention. With a record number of 8,453 Delegates, and an estimated number of 2,000 Observers, the Organizers of the Convention deserve commendation for having managed the Convention to a successful conclusion, without security or safety of the Delegates ever compromised. Of importance was visible commitment on their part to the welfare of the Delegates, as food and water were ceaseless at the Delegates’ beck and call.
While addressing the Convention, the National Leader of the Party, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, placed emphasis on Party Unity, and Consolidation of his Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He also reminded his fellow Party Members of the importance of tough economic measures in order to pull Nigeria out of the woods.
Equity Global Reporters Ltd, however, wishes to advise that the Party should have an introspection generally on the Convention. As a human organization that is not infallible, it was not unlikely that some lapses must have been evident in the course of the Convention and, so, should be reviewed for purposes of future national events.
A critical survey should be made in the area of accommodation. A
rhetorical question like, were all the Delegates provided with a place to lay their heads, should be asked. There could also be need to ask why many Delegates arrived Abuja very late in the night of Friday 27th March, 2026, being the day of the Convention. Efforts could be made to find out if there was an avoidable communication gap between the Organizers and the Delegates.
With Congresses and Convention successfully concluded, with almost every Stakeholder having a sense of belonging, it is expected that the new Party Executive Officers at the different levels of Party administration will show commitment and dedication to consolidate and deepen the Party in the grassroots. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda which has translated to Policies that have started impacting positively on the Economy,
should serve as the focal point of Party administration. They should always be mindful of the fact that to whom much is given, much is expected.
As for the teaming Members of the Party that saw to the emergence of the Party’s Executive Committee Members, they should have it at the back of their mind that it is only electoral success of the Party that can guarantee their political growth, one way or the other. Therefore, at all times, they should be unrelenting in supporting the Party to thrive and coast home to victory in 2027 general election.
Sir Don Ubani is a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Abia State, Chieftain of All Progressives Congress, and Publisher of Equity Global Reporters Ltd.
