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Barring any last-minute changes, the All Progressives Congress is expected to set up a convention planning committee during its National Executive Committee meeting scheduled for July 24.

The PUNCH gathered that the committee will oversee preparations for the party’s National Elective Convention scheduled for December, where new members of the National Working Committee are to be elected.

Reliable party sources, who spoke to The PUNCH on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorisation, revealed that apart from replacing the national chairman, APC governors and other NEC members are pushing for a full elective convention to replace all current NWC members ahead of the 2027 elections.

Meanwhile, several NWC members have reportedly begun lobbying to limit the shake-up to just the replacement of the acting national chairman, Ali Bukar Dalori.

Article 12 (4) of the APC Constitution 2022 (as amended) lists the 22 positions that make up the National Working Committee.

The NWC includes the National Chairman, Deputy National Chairman (North), Deputy National Chairman (South), National Secretary, Deputy National Secretary, six National Vice Chairmen—one from each geopolitical zone (referred to as Zonal Chairmen), National Legal Adviser, National Treasurer and National Financial Secretary.

Others include National Organising Secretary, National Welfare Secretary, National Publicity Secretary, National Auditor, National Woman Leader, Deputy National Woman Leader, National Youth Leader, and National Leader of Persons Living with Disabilities.

Also, Article 17 titled Tenure of Office (i to iii) stated, “Except as otherwise provided in this constitution, all officers of the party elected or appointed into the party’s organs shall serve in such organs for a period of four (4) years and shall be eligible for re-election or re-appointment for another period of four (4) years only, provided that an officer elected or appointed to fill a vacancy arising from death, resignation or otherwise will notwithstanding be eligible for election to same office for two terms.

It added, “No member shall serve in the same office for more than eight (8) years continuously, except a person who first came to the office by filling a vacancy or whose tenure was truncated as a result of the decision of an organ of the party authorised to do so and not on grounds of disciplinary action.

“No member can be an Officer at the National and State levels of the party concurrently, other than being an ex-officio member of that organ.”

Despite the constitutional provision, no national chairman or NWC member has completed a full four-year term at the helm of the ruling party, as their tenures are often cut short.

Most recently, on June 27, 2025, was the resignation of former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, as national chairman.

This is reportedly linked to internal political manoeuvring and strategic positioning within the APC ahead of the 2027 general election.

On June 30, APC Deputy National Secretary, Festus Fuanter, announced that the party’s NEC meeting would be held in Abuja on July 24.

According to him, “And during the meeting, if they so desire that a new chairman is nominated, we’ll also accept such nomination and then wait for the convention where the final position of the party will be made as far as the substantive chairman is concerned.

“So, that’s as much as I can tell you. And the date, the suggested date for the NEC meeting is the 24th of July, 2025. It’s going to be here, on the premises of the APC.”

A reliable source told The PUNCH that Dalori is expected to remain in office until December when party delegates will elect new members of the NWC.

The source stated, “Most of the critical stakeholders and even the Presidency are not interested in nominating a new national chairman during the NEC meeting slated for July. What many have supported so far is an elective convention.

“So, at the NEC, the party may constitute a convention planning committee. I said this because the governors and other party leaders want a total change of the current NWC.

“There may be a national elective convention in December. Nobody is planning to replace Dalori in July to the best of my knowledge. Dalori will lead the party to a convention where new leaders of the party will emerge.”

Another source also confirmed that the party was preparing for a December convention to elect new NWC members to reflect the interests of certain governors and recent entrants into the ruling party.

The source said, “The ongoing conversation among party leaders is centred on the December convention. They are concerned about how new NWC members will emerge and lead the party into the 2027 elections.

“It’s not just about replacing Ganduje; the December convention is intended to produce new party leaders.

“This is seen as crucial to accommodate those who have recently joined the party and those expected to join before then, especially governors who are becoming influential in the APC’s national leadership.

“As we speak, some NWC members are already lobbying. They want to retain their positions and are trying to influence other NEC members to simply announce Ganduje’s replacement. But the broader plan is to hold a December convention to elect a new set of party leaders.”

He added, “In the coming days, the governors will brief the President. If he gives his approval, the NEC meeting in July will then constitute the necessary committees.”

Attempts to reach the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, for a response were unsuccessful, as his phone was unreachable at the time of filing this report.

However, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Duro Meseko, told our correspondent in an exclusive interview that there was currently no such plan in place.

He said the NEC meeting scheduled for July 24 would decide whether a convention would be held or not.

He added that clearer direction would emerge after party stakeholders meet with President Bola Tinubu in the coming days.

He stated, “There’s nothing like that for now. Everything about whether to have an elective convention by December is for the NEC to decide. So, nobody can preempt what NEC will bring or agree to.

“We will be pre-empting the agenda of NEC. I am sure this week, we will be aware of the agenda of NEC.

“Right now, the agenda has not been fixed. But you know, Mr President is back now. He is the leader of the party, and he will relate with the party’s leadership as to the agenda of NEC on that day.”

The APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, also stated that Nigerians should anticipate a stronger and more effective ruling party following the upcoming NEC meeting and other related gatherings.

In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, Ibrahim urged those rejoicing over Ganduje’s exit and hoping for the downfall of the APC to reconsider their stance.

He stated, “Ganduje resigned on his own volition as the chairman of the party. He did not resign his membership of the party.

“So in whatever capacity Ganduje is, he is a bona fide member of the APC, and he’s in a position to contribute positively. So those of them who are celebrating his exit, wishing our party was bad had better change their mind and go back to have a rethink.

“From our July NEC and other meetings, Nigerians should expect a stronger APC, a more determined APC, an APC that will consolidate the gains of what it has done so far and re-emphasise the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.”

Punch