By Jude Opara, Abuja
As party stakeholders get set for the 2026 National Convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), there are very strong pointers that the configuration of the party may be affected by this exercise.
This convention is very important because it is expected to produce a set of new leaders, that is members of the National Working Committee (NWC) who will oversee the day to day running of the party, probably for the next four years.
Members of the NWC are usually the custodians of the affairs of the party, they are only answerable to the National Executive Committee (NEC), which comprises the President, the state governors and the state chairmen of the party.
Therefore the stake is always very high in a convention of this magnitude and this very one has not disappointed. Right from the day the guidelines for the conduct of the exercise was made public, it’s has been a game of intrigues, manipulations and counter manipulations.
While the incumbent members of the NWC were said to have gotten the ears of the presidency to remain in office, it has been a series of complaints from those eyeing these plum positions from outside.
It was gathered that the state governors expectedly are showing more than a passing interest in who emerges from their states and regions. The reason behind this is not far fetched. The NWC members are responsible for the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms for all those who would want to contest any elective position. Baring any unlikely intervention by the presidency or the NEC, the NWC has the latitude to take any action on behalf of the party.
Therefore, it’s a given that any aspirant who has the ears of his or her governor is home and dry. While some of the incumbent members are said to have secured the endorsement of their governors, there are others who may not have been that lucky.
Sources at the National Secretariait of the APC revealed that in order to perfect their plan to return, the party only printed one nomination form for each of the positions.
However, when some interested governors shouted, the party had no option but to print another form for them.
A classical example of a state where the governor is said to have interest in who represents his state is Enugu. The state has produced the Deputy National Chairman (South) in the person of Hon. Emma Enukwu, but it is strongly believed that Governor Peter Mba is rooting for the state chairman of the party, Dr. Ben Nwoye. Both Enukwu and Nwoye purchased the nomination forms and appeared for screening on Monday.
Another state where there is a possibility of an upset is Abia where the National Welfare Secretary, Chief Donatus Nwankpa is being challenged by Chief Nduka Anyanwu.
While Nwankpa is said to be the candidate of former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, Anyanwu is being backed by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu.
Anybody who is abreast with Abia politics will understand that there is a battle of supremacy between Sen. Orji Kalu and Hon. Benjamin Kalu over who is the leader of the party in the state.
There are other undercurrents that have been playing out in the buildup to the National Convention. Many intending aspirants who actually paid for their nomination forms were unfortunately not issued with these documents. Interestingly, despite several attempts, these people were denied the forms they duly paid for.
Such “unaccompanied” aspirants were seen as outsiders who only wanted to reap where they did not sow, hence the inability of the party to either issue them with the forms or explain to them why the denial.
Prior to the screening exercise which took place on Tuesday, it was only the National Chairman, Prof. Nantawe Yilwatda and the National Secretary, Sen. Ajibola Basiru that were sure of their positions on the NWC.
However, some other NWC members got a reprieve shortly after the screening, when they found out that they were running unopposed. Some of such lucky aspirants include; the Deputy National Chairman, Alhaji Bukka Dalori, the National treasurer, Chief Mathew Uguru, Deputy National Organizing Secretary of the party, Hon. Chidi Duru and the National Publicity Secretary (NPS), Barr. Felix Morka amongst others.
Ironically, while those who are sure of their return to the party leadership are celebrating, those who were simply excluded have been leaking their wounds, amidst the uncertainty sorounding their membership of the ruling party.
To further state how disappointed he was, Amb. Fubara Dagogo who wanted to run for the office of National Vice Chairman (South South) has dragged the party to court over his exclusion from the elective convention.
Dagogo in the suit he instituted in the Federal High Court is seeking to halt all activities leading to the convention. He is equally demanding for a N100m Naira damages from the party for excluding him from the convention, despite duly paying the sum of N5.1 for the forms.
In the suit marked No FHC/ABJ/C8/591/2026, in a Matter of Construction and Interpretation of the All Progressives Congress Payment Acknowledgement Receipt No 26827, 13/03/2026, Vis-a-VisThe Adjusted APC 2026 Schedule of Nationwide Congresses National Convention And Related Activities, Particularly on Purchase of Forms For National Convention, And Date of Zonal Congresses in the Six Geo – political Zones And Section 20(1) (A) of the APC constitution, the plaintiff asked the court to interpret if the party treated him fairly.
Apart from Dagogo, the case of Dr. Oyiborume Paul Yovee is spectacular. Yovee from Delta state wanted to contest for the position of National Secretary but when found out that the party had micro zoned positions to the regions of the incumbents, he decided to purchase the form for the position of the National Publicity Secretary (NPS) which is zoned to the South South.
Yovee too cried blue murder and had also hinted he could be heading to court to compel the APC to give him the opportunity to participate in the convention.
He had described the idea of restraining intending aspirants from getting the nomination form as against the Constitutions of the party as well as that of Nigeria which gives him freedom of association. But as at press time, there was no news of his approaching the court.
With this step taken by the Rivers state born Dagogo, nobody knows what action the other persons who were equally denied the forms would do, after paying the required amount related to the office they wanted to contest for.
Also, the convention could be put on hold if the court decides that the petitioner has a valid ground for his actions.
A reliable source in the APC hinted that the NWC members were at the last minute given the clearance to remain in office and handle the primary elections of the party preparatory to the 2027 general elections.
According to our source, the presidency didn’t want to have a major purge of the NWC since the National Chairman, Prof. Nantawe Yilwatda was just appointment after the removal of his predecessor, Dr. Abdulahi Ganduje late last year.
Also, the National Secretary, Sen. Ajibola Basiru was allowed to remain since he was prevailed upon to jettison his earlier ambition to contest for the 2026 governorship election in Osun state.
“What I do know is that this incoming NWC may not last long before they are shown the exit door. After the election next year, any false step from them will be the end. Remember that the President will not be looking for anything else from them. The Tinubu I know will not be patient with any mistake. But I wish them good luck”, our source who pleaded anonymity concluded.
- Interestingly, as at the time of going to press, nobody knows the fate of the aspirants who have opponents because the Governor Biodun Oyebanji led Screening Committee has not made public the outcome of their exercise. So nobody knows who has been screened out or cleared.
