Politics
2027: APC plots major NWC rejig ahead of Dec convention
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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
The leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, has formally welcomed former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, and former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Victor Ochei, into the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Dickson disclosed this in a statement posted on his official Facebook page on Thursday, May 28, 2026, where he also announced that the party had granted both politicians waivers to participate in the NDC senatorial primaries scheduled for Friday.
According to him, Omo-Agege and Ochei would contest in their respective senatorial districts under the platform of the party.
“It was a pleasure to warmly receive Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, CFR, former Deputy Senate President, into our great party, alongside Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly.
“I am also pleased to announce that the NDC has not only received them warmly but has equally granted them waivers to contest in the senatorial primaries in their respective districts tomorrow,” Dickson stated.
The latest development comes amid ongoing political realignments in Delta State following Omo-Agege’s recent resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Earlier on Thursday, Omo-Agege officially confirmed his defection to the NDC and declared his intention to contest the Delta Central Senatorial seat in the 2027 elections.
Multiple reports also confirmed that the NDC leadership approved waivers for both Omo-Agege and Ochei to participate in the primaries despite their recent entry into the party.
Dickson explained that the decision followed weeks of consultations aimed at strengthening the NDC’s structure in the South-South region and across Nigeria.
“This development is the result of several weeks of consultations aimed at strengthening the foundations of our party in the South-South region and across the country,” he added.
He further urged party members and supporters to embrace the new entrants and work together toward the party’s electoral ambitions ahead of 2027.
The defection of Omo-Agege, a former APC governorship candidate in Delta State, alongside the movement of other political figures into the NDC, is expected to reshape political calculations in the state as parties intensify preparations for the next election cycle.
Ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar has taken what appears to be an unassailable lead in the 2027 presidential primary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which started yesterday, Monday, May 25, 2026.
He as so far won over 160,000 votes from three states, with Amaechi winning only one state and garnering about 7,000 votes, while Hayatu-Deen has yet to win a state. Atiku has won Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara, while Amaechi won Ebonyi.
The Zamfara chapter of ADC over-night declared Atiku as the winner of its presidential primary election in the state.
The Chairman of the ADC Presidential Primary Election Committee and Returning Officer for the exercise, Namadi Musa, announced the results on Monday in Gusau.
Musa said Abubakar polled 60,500 votes to defeat two other aspirants, Dr Mohammed Hayatuddeen, who scored 446 votes, and Rotimi Amaechi, who secured 191 votes.
He explained that the primary was conducted across all 147 wards in the 14 Local Government Areas of Zamfara in line with the party’s guidelines and the Electoral Act, 2026.
According to him, 63,484 party members were registered for the exercise, and 61,137 votes were cast.
“Having fulfilled the ADC guidelines and the Electoral Act, 2026, and having scored the highest votes, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is hereby returned as the party’s presidential candidate in Zamfara,” Musa declared.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Collation Officer for the Zamfara ADC Presidential Primary, Mikailu Barau, handed the collated results to the returning officer after the 14 local government party chairmen declared results from their areas.
Musa commended party members and stakeholders for their support, noting that the exercise was conducted peacefully across the state.
The collation and announcement of results were done in the presence of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials and other stakeholders.
NAN further reports that the results were announced in the presence of officials from the Election and Political Party Monitoring Department of the INEC.
The officials said they monitored every stage of the process, from the State Assembly and Governorship primaries to the House of Representatives, Senatorial, and Presidential primaries.
The head of the INEC team, Mr Lawal Aliyu, advised party officials to adhere strictly to the commission’s guidelines and the Electoral Act, 2026.
He said INEC would remain neutral and ensure a level playing field for all contestants in the electoral process.
Aliyu also urged stakeholders to mobilise prospective voters to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to participate in the general elections.
NAN reports that the ADC State Chairman, Shehu Maishanu, local government chairmen of the party, and candidates for State Assembly, House of Representatives, and Senatorial seats attended the event.
In Yobe, Atiku won the presidential primary with 44,841 votes.
Hajiya Ma’am Kyari, chairperson of the electoral committee in Yobe, announced the result on Monday in Damaturu.
Kyari said Mr Rotimi Amaechi secured 300 votes, while Mr Mohamed Hayatudeen polled 365 votes during the exercise.
She declared Atiku winner after securing the highest number of valid votes cast in the primary election.
“Having scored the highest number of valid votes cast, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is hereby declared winner of the ADC presidential primary election in Yobe State,” she said.
Kyari described the exercise as peaceful and conducted in line with the party’s guidelines.
She commended party members, officials and security agencies for ensuring a smooth process across the state.
The chairperson also praised aspirants and their supporters for maintaining decorum throughout the exercise.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Kassim Geidam, ADC governorship candidate in Yobe, described the primary as peaceful and successful.
Geidam said party supporters and stakeholders across Zones A, B and C actively participated in the process.
He commended party executives, security agencies and traditional rulers for supporting the peaceful conduct of the election.
The governorship candidate also appreciated media practitioners for their professionalism during the exercise.
Yesterday evening, Atiku had won the ADC presidential primary in Sokoto State by a wide margin.
Announcing the results on Monday, Chief Collation Officer, Prof. Aminu Abubakar, said Atiku secured 68,823 votes across the 23 local government areas.
Prof. Abubakar said 69,434 votes were cast during the exercise conducted across the state.
According to him, Amaechi, polled 292 votes.
But in Ebonyi, Amaechi secured 6,050 votes to emerge victorious, while Hayatu-Ddeen garnered 4,840 votes to come second, with Atiku coming a distant third with 1,210 votes. (Based largely on NAN reports)
An African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential aspirant, Rotimi Amaechi, has given condition to question the party’s ongoing presidential primary.
Amaechi disclosed that he would react and question the process of the primary election if it’s not free and fair.
He spoke to journalists after casting his vote at the ongoing ADC’s presidential primary in his Ward of Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
According to Amaechi: “It was a huge number of turn out, first there was celebration and dancing, then we got the INEC people involved and I did cast my vote and left the place.
“I was monitoring the country state-by-state where I was, I hope the system would be transparent as it was in my village, if it’s transparent I would accept the result but if it’s not free and fair a lot of us would react.
“The answer is yes, If the other person wins, I will work with him but if the process is not free and fair, I would question it.”
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