Di All Progressives Congress (APC) don confirm say 8,453 delegates go attend dia 8th National Convention wey go hold for Abuja from Friday, March 27 to Saturday, March 28, 2026. Di Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announce dis during World Press Conference for Abuja on Thursday. Idris talk say di delegates go come from all di 36 states of di federation and di Federal Capital Territory.
Di minister explain say di convention theme na “Unity in Progress: Consolidating the Renewed Hope Agenda,” wey reflect di party commitment to cohesion and continuity. According to am, di convention no be only for leadership elections but also for reflection, consolidation, and planning for di party future trajectory. Idris assure say all necessary arrangements don finish to ensure smooth and transparent event.
“We dey expect total number of 8,453 delegates from across di country. Dis one clearly show di national spread, inclusiveness, and organisational strength of our great party,” Idris talk. E add say di party budget get self-adjusting mechanism to accommodate all delegates, and say movements of delegates and committee members from various parts of di country don dey seamless and incident-free so far.
Di Chairman of di party 2026 National Convention Central Coordination Committee, Aminu Bello Masari, express confidence for di party preparedness. Masari highlight say di APC aim to set benchmark for internal party democracy, transparency, and organisation. Di former Katsina State governor address concerns wey aspirants raise about denial of forms, explaining say leadership positions don zone to ensure fairness.
At di heart of discussions for di convention na di political future of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, especially di prospect of im re-election bid for 2027. Although di president never formally declare im intention to seek second term, party insiders say di matter go feature prominently during deliberations. Earlier dis year, APC stakeholders for summit for Abuja pass vote of confidence for Tinubu and endorse am as di party preferred candidate for next presidential election.
Another major highlight of di convention go be election of new crop of national officers to steer di affairs of di party. Di exercise go reaffirm di APC leadership structure ahead of 2027 elections. Di party don conclude screening of aspirants wey dey vie for positions inside di National Working Committee (NWC). About 30 aspirants don assess by di National Convention Aspirants’ Screening Committee, wey Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji chair.
Among those wey dem clear na di party National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, and National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, alongside 28 others. Reports show say most of di NWC members dey contest unopposed, wey suggest consensus-driven approach to leadership selection. After im screening on Tuesday, Yilwatda describe di APC as Nigeria most nationally spread political party, highlighting improvements for internal democratic processes and institutional reforms.
Top sources talk say di convention go also ratify timelines for di party primaries for presidential, governorship and National Assembly election, in line with guidelines wey Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issue. INEC don fix April 23 to May 30, 2026, as di window wey all political parties must conduct dia primaries. Dis timeline impose tight schedule on parties, making early planning and coordination critical.
Another critical matter for di agenda na campaign financing, especially for presidential election. Running nationwide campaign for Nigeria, wey cover all 36 states and di Federal Capital Territory (FCT), require enormous financial resources, making funding central concern for political parties including di APC. Under new provisions, di campaign spending limit for presidential candidates don increase to N10 billion.
Di influx of high-profile defectors into di APC na another sensitive matter for discussion. For recent months, several governors, lawmakers and political heavyweights don cross over from opposition parties, significantly boosting di APC numerical strength. Di governors wey join di party na Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Agbu Kefas (Taraba), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa) and Abba Kabir Yusuf (Kano).
Party officials reveal say one of di major items for di agenda na review of di party electronic membership registration and planned submission of im digital register to INEC. Sources inside di party talk say delegates go deliberate extensively on progress wey dem make so far for e-registration exercise, as well as address outstanding technical and administrative issues to ensure compliance with electoral requirements.
Di digital register, wey capture verified membership data across di country, dey considered critical to strengthening internal party processes and enhancing transparency. Di development come against backdrop of provisions for Electoral Act, 2026, wey mandate all political parties to submit dia updated digital membership registers to INEC not later than April 2, 2026. Failure to meet dis deadline fit result in severe consequences, including risk of exclusion from participation for 2027 general elections.
On January 30, 2026, di APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, disclose to journalists for Abuja say di party don register over seven million members through im electronic membership registration exercise. E describe di figure as significant milestone, underscoring di party expanding grassroots base and growing acceptance of im digital registration initiative. Di convention go therefore provide platform for ratifying di register and aligning stakeholders on next steps.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
