At the party’s convention, which is set for March 27–28, 2026, in Abuja, the All Progressives Congress has confirmed that it intends to choose its national leadership through consensus.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, Mary Ikoku, the Assistant Secretary for Media and Publicity for the APC National Convention 2026, revealed the idea.
Ikoku stated that the party had not yet made a decision on how to handle elective seats during primaries, pointing out that choices might differ based on regional political circumstances.
“APC, I am aware and can say that the party is adopting consensus for this convention,” she clarified. Since politics is local, I am unable to respond to the question of whether they are embracing consensus for elective positions.
“So, I think that, in the end, when it comes to the issue of elective positions, the people who would emerge aren’t usually what you would want to make consensus in every space.”
Ikoku also discussed the rules of the Electoral Act, which mandate that political parties establish appropriate candidate selection procedures and register members online within a certain amount of time.
Although these restrictions presented difficulties for some parties, she said they demonstrated preparedness—or lack thereof.
“The models for these elections are defined by our electoral law. Indirect primaries have been eliminated, although direct primaries and consensus have been permitted.
That is the nation’s existing law, which has been approved and ratified. “Now, why do you think that will cause problems for other political parties?” she inquired.
That would imply that various political parties have varying degrees of unpreparedness. Any respectable political party should begin planning for the run for office and all of these congresses before election season arrives.
They would have prepared for it in advance. Therefore, these kinds of events can really test you if you are not proactive as a party,” she continued.
Prior to the convention, the party started vetting candidates for important roles in its National Working Committee, such as National Secretary candidate Ajibola Basiru and National Chairman candidate Nentawe Yilwatda.
National Youth Leader Dayo Israel, Deputy National Chairman (North) Ali Bukar Dalori, National Legal Advisor Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana, National Woman Leader Mary Alile Idele, and National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka are among the other NWC members vying to keep their positions.
In the meantime, Senator Douye Diri, the governor of Bayelsa State, has stated that the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) decision to pick its officials by agreement is the greatest method to promote unity and strengthen the party before the general election in 2027.
At the APC South-South Zonal Congress on Wednesday in Asaba, Delta State, Senator Diri made this statement.
The governor of Bayelsa expressed happiness that the South-South region now has a unified voice in politics under the APC, emphasizing the importance of the region’s participation in national decision-making.
The head of the South-South Governors Forum, Diri, recalled that when he ran for governor in 2019, the political party primary delegate election procedure made the process hostile.
He stated that the catchphrase at the time was “there won’t be a governor without delegates,” pointing out that this has since changed to “consensus building.”
“I like to align myself with the previous speakers on the unity of the South-South zone,” he said. The South-South now has a single voice in this region’s politics. The zone’s strategic importance makes this crucial.
“You will fall behind in the decision-making process if you are not there at the sharing table. We must come together so that we won’t tolerate small differences between us.
God willing, all of our candidates will win the 2027 elections if we cooperate to keep the APC united and safe in the South-South. A cohesive family is the best thing there is.
“I would want to congratulate President Bola Tinubu on his outstanding accomplishments thus far. Such electoral congresses and other political gatherings were typically rife with animosity and bloodshed. However, in order to generate our party executives from the wards to the regional level, we now use the consensus methodology.
In his speech, Senate President Godswill Akpabio praised Chief Victor Giadom, the former national vice chairman, for his tireless efforts to win over all of the region’s governors to the party.
Senator Akpabio said he was thrilled that Governor Diri had joined the APC and that he admired the Bayelsa governor because of his kind disposition.
Chief Giadom made it possible for the governors of the South-South zone to unite in the APC. You and your team deserve my congratulations on your accomplishments. We shall be the geopolitical zone in Nigeria that casts the most votes for President Tinubu in 2027 now that we are finished and concentrated.
Our region hasn’t produced a Senate president in the last 46 years or so. However, the South-South region is acknowledged under President Tinubu. We are grateful that the president appointed a senate president for the South-South.
The host governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and his counterparts from Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Edo, and Cross River all discussed the need for unity in order to re-elect President Tinubu for a second term in their messages of goodwill.
In their speeches, each governor pledged to support the president’s reelection.
Along with seven other party zonal executives, Chief Victor Giadom was reinstated as the party’s zone chairman.
Abraham Ingobere, the speaker of the Bayelsa House of Assembly, seconded Emomotimi Guwor’s motion to dissolve the immediate zone executive.
Giadom stated in his speech that the assembly of the region’s six governors, legislators, ministers, and other significant stakeholders was a sign of the zone’s determination to support all APC candidates in the upcoming election.Kekemeke is re-elected by the S’West APC, and Tinubu is expected to win a landslide in 2027.
Isaacs Kekemeke was re-elected as the All Progressives Congress’s National Vice Chairman for the South-West chapter on Wednesday.
At the party’s South-West Zonal Congress, which took place at Mobolaji Johnson Stadium in Onikan, Lagos, Kekemeke and other zonal executive members emerged.
The six South-West states sent 3,188 delegates to the congress, where a consensus agreement approved by voice vote was used to return the executives.
According to Jide Jimoh, the chairman of the Zonal Congress Committee, the consensus was adopted in accordance with the Electoral Act’s stipulations.
Femi Aluko (Secretary), Lateef Ibirogba (Organizing Secretary), Ayo Afolabi (Publicity Secretary), Adeduyi Daramola (Youth Leader), Ismail Majaro (Legal Advisor), and Dayo Ishola (Representative of Persons with Disabilities) are among the other elected officials.
At the ceremony, party officials promised to give Bola Ahmed Tinubu a resounding win in the general election of 2027.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji, and Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa were among the dignitaries in attendance.
Former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba, Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly Mudasiru Obasa, and APC candidate for Osun State governor Bola Oyebamiji were also present.
Sanwo-Olu, speaking on behalf of the governors of the South-West, said the congress was calm and demonstrated the party’s cohesion in the area.
“Today, we have witnessed the conduct of a free and fair election, following the provisions of the 2026 Electoral Act,” stated Sanwo-Olu. This congress demonstrates the South-West’s unity and strength as a political bloc.
The National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, spoke on behalf of APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru, who congratulated the new executives and encouraged them to strive for the party’s triumph in 2027.
Kekemeke stated in his speech that he was confident in the party’s strength throughout the region and that it will do well in the upcoming general election.
Arodiogbu is re-elected by the APC to serve as South-East National Vice Chairman.
Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu has been re-elected by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to serve as its South-East National Vice Chairman, leading the party’s operations in the region for the ensuing four years.
At the APC South-East Congress, which took place on Wednesday at the Presidential Hotel in Enugu, Arodiogbu appeared among other zonal executives.
Party representatives from each of the five South-East states supported the consensus agreement that was used to conduct the election.
Chief Ernest Ogbonna, the legal secretary, and Chief Innocent Itapi, the zonal secretary, were among the other members of the recently elected zonal executive.
The others are Dr. Stanley Nwachukwu, Leader of Persons with Disabilities (PWD), Mr. Henry Onwughaluonye, Publicity Secretary; Mr. Chima Ogbonnaya, Youth Leader; and Dr. Oby Aji, Women Leader.
The list of candidates was approved after a motion by party officials and members, according to Chief Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, who announced the results.
“When a motion is made and approved, it shows that our party’s members and leadership agree to accept these names as consensus candidates for the South-East,” he stated.
The move, according to Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, is a clear sign of the APC’s expanding power in the South-East.
This demonstrates how deeply ingrained the APC is in the South-East. Because of the commitment of its leaders and followers, the party has continued to become stronger,” he stated.
Mbah praised the regional governors, national working committee members, and zonal leadership for their efforts to fortify the party’s structure.
In addition, he urged unity ahead of the national convention and praised party officials who had risen from prior congresses at the state, local, and ward levels.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his reform programs, pointing out that they had put Nigeria on the road to economic expansion.
Speaking, Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma stated that the consensual arrangement showed internal party solidarity and was consistent with the party’s constitution.
“I applaud our wonderful party’s members for their consistent membership increase throughout the South-East. The practice today demonstrates our solidarity and dedication to advancement, according to Uzodimma.
Arodiogbu thanked party members for their faith in him and his staff during his acceptance speech.
Notable party leaders attended the congress, including former Senate President Chief Ken Nnamani, former governor of Anambra State Sen. Chris Ngige, and governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi.
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