The All Progressives Congress has announced that, at its convention, which is set for March 27–28, 2026, in Abuja, it will choose its national leadership by a consensus process.
In an interview with Sunrise Daily on Channels Television on Wednesday, Mary Ikoku, the APC National Convention 2026’s Assistant Secretary for Media and Publicity, revealed the idea.
Ikoku stated that the party has not yet made a decision on how to handle elective seats during primaries, pointing out that choices may differ based on regional political circumstances.
“APC, for this convention, I am aware and can say that the party is adopting consensus,” she clarified. Since politics are local, I am unable to respond to the question of whether they are adopting consensus for elective positions.
“Therefore, 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 explain acceptable methods for selecting candidates and register members online within a certain amount of time.
Although these rules presented difficulties for some parties, she said they demonstrated readiness—or lack thereof.
The models for these elections are defined by our electoral legislation. While indirect primaries have been eliminated, direct primaries and consensus have been permitted.
That has been passed and approved as the country’s current law. She questioned, “Now, why do you think other political parties will have problems with that?”
In other words, these political groups are not entirely prepared. Any credible political party should begin planning for the bid for office and all of these congresses before election season arrives.
It’s something they would have prepared for. Therefore, these kinds of events may really test you as a party if you are not proactive,” she continued.
Nentawe Yilwatda, a candidate for National Chairman, and Ajibola Basiru, a candidate for National Secretary, were among the candidates the party screened for important roles in its National Working Committee prior to the convention.
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 for their positions.
In the meantime, Senator Douye Diri, the governor of Bayelsa State, has stated that the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) decision to pick its officials by agreement is the greatest method to promote unity and strengthen the party in front of the general election in 2027.
This was said by Senator Diri on Wednesday at the APC South-South Zonal Congress in Asaba, Delta State.
The governor of Bayelsa was pleased that the South-South region now had a unified voice in politics under the APC, emphasizing the importance of the region’s participation in national decision-making.
The chairman of the South-South Governors Forum, Diri, remembered that when he ran for governor in 2019, the political party primaries’ delegate election method made the contest bitter.
He stated that the slogan at the time was “without delegates, there will be no governor,” but he pointed out that this has since evolved to “consensus building.”
“I like to align myself with the previous speakers on the unity of the South-South zone,” he stated. In terms of politics, the South-South now has a single voice. This is significant due to the zone’s strategic importance.
“You will fall behind if you are not there at the decision-making table. We must unite so that we won’t tolerate small-scale disagreements.
“God willing, all of our candidates will win the 2027 elections if we work together to safeguard and unite the APC in the South-South. Nothing is greater than a cohesive family.
“Let me congratulate President Bola Tinubu on his outstanding accomplishments thus far. Such political gatherings, like elective congresses, were typically rife with animosity and bloodshed. However, we now use the consensus technique to create party executives at all levels, from the wards to the region.
In his speech, Senate President Godswill Akpabio praised Chief Victor Giadom, the former national vice chairman, for his unwavering efforts to win over all of the region’s governors to the party.
Senator Akpabio was thrilled that Governor Diri has joined the APC and said he admired the Bayelsa governor because of his kind disposition.
Chief Giadom enabled the South-South zone governors to unite in the APC. I want to congratulate you and your team on your achievements. We shall be the Nigerian geopolitical zone that casts the most votes for President Tinubu in 2027 now that we are finished and concentrated.
Our region has not produced a Senate president in the last forty-six years or thereabouts. However, President Tinubu recognizes the South-South region. We are grateful that the president appointed a senate president to represent the South-South.
In their greetings of goodwill, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, the host governor, and his equivalents from Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Edo, and Cross River all emphasized the need for unity in order to elect President Tinubu to a second term.
In their statements, each governor pledged to support the president’s reelection.
Chief Victor Giadom and seven other party zonal officials were reappointed as the party’s zonal chairman.
Emomotimi Guwor, the speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, made the motion to dissolve the immediate zone executive, and Abraham Ingobere, his counterpart from Bayelsa, seconded it.
Giadom stated that the assembly of the region’s six governors, legislators, ministers, and other significant stakeholders was a sign of the zone’s will to support all APC candidates in the upcoming election.Kekemeke is re-elected by S’West APC, and Tinubu is expected to win a landslide in 2027.
Isaacs Kekemeke was re-elected by the All Progressives Congress South-West chapter on Wednesday to serve as the zone’s National Vice Chairman.
At the party’s South-West Zonal Congress, which took place at Mobolaji Johnson Stadium in Onikan, Lagos, Kekemeke and other zonal executive members were revealed.
The congress, which was attended by 3,188 delegates from the six South-West states, returned the executives via a voice vote-ratified consensus.
Jide Jimoh, the chairman of the Zonal Congress Committee, stated that the acceptance of consensus complied with the Electoral Act’s requirements.
Femi Aluko (secretary), Lateef Ibirogba (organizing secretary), Ayo Afolabi (publicity secretary), Adeduyi Daramola (youth leader), Ismail Majaro (legal advisor), and Dayo Ishola (representative of people with disabilities) are among the other elected officials.
At the gathering, party leaders vowed to ensure that Bola Ahmed Tinubu won the general election in 2027 with a landslide victory.
Dignitaries in attendance included the governors of Lagos State (Babajide Sanwo-Olu), Ogun State (Dapo Abiodun), Ekiti State (Biodun Oyebanji), and Ondo State (Lucky Aiyedatiwa).
Olusegun Osoba, the former governor of Ogun State; Obafemi Hamzat, the deputy governor of Lagos State; Mudasiru Obasa, the speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly; and Bola Oyebamiji, the APC candidate for Osun State governor, were among those present.
Sanwo-Olu, speaking on behalf of the governors of the South-West, said the congress was calm and a reflection of the party’s unity in the area.
“We have witnessed the conduct of a free and fair election today, following the provisions of the 2026 Electoral Act,” stated Sanwo-Olu. The South-West is unified and a powerful political bloc, as demonstrated by this congress.
The National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, spoke on behalf of the 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 power throughout the region and that it will do well in the upcoming general election.
Arodiogbu is re-elected by the APC as the Vice Chairman of the South-East National
Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu, the South-East National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been re-elected to lead the party’s operations in the region for the ensuing four years.
Arodiogbu and other zonal executives appeared at the APC South-East Congress on Wednesday at the Presidential Hotel in Enugu.
Party delegates from each of the five South-East states supported the consensual agreement used to conduct the election.
The newly elected zonal executive also featured Chief Ernest Ogbonna, the legal secretary, and Chief Innocent Itapi, the zonal secretary.
Mr. Henry Onwughaluonye, Publicity Secretary; Mr. Chima Ogbonnaya, Youth Leader; Dr. Stanley Nwachukwu, PWD Leader; and Dr. Oby Aji, Women Leader, make up the remaining group.
Chief Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, announced the results, stating that a resolution by party leaders and members led to the adoption of the list of candidates.
“When a motion is made and approved, it shows that our party’s leadership and members agree to accept these names as consensus candidates representing the South-East,” he stated.
The development is a clear sign of the APC’s increasing power in the South-East, according to a statement made by Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah.
This demonstrates the APC’s strong ties to the South-East. The commitment of the party’s leaders and people has allowed it to keep becoming stronger,” he stated.
Mbah praised the regional governors, national working committee members, and zonal leadership for their efforts in fortifying the party’s organizational framework.
In addition, he urged unity ahead of the national convention and thanked party officials at the ward, local government, and state levels who had risen from earlier congresses.
He acknowledged that President Bola Tinubu’s reform efforts had put Nigeria on the road to economic expansion and expressed gratitude for them.
Speaking, Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma stated that the agreement was consistent with the party’s constitution and showed unity within the party.
“I applaud our wonderful party’s members for the consistent increase in membership throughout the Southeast. The activity today demonstrates our solidarity and dedication to advancement, Uzodimma stated.
Arodiogbu thanked party members in his acceptance speech for their faith in him and his group.
Gov. Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi, former Senate President Chief Ken Nnamani, and former Anambra State Governor Sen. Chris Ngige were among the prominent party leaders present at the congress.
