The national convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is holding in Abuja, with thousands of delegates and party leaders gathering to elect new members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and take key decisions ahead of the 2027 general election.
About 8,453 delegates are attending the convention at Eagle Square, where the party is expected to adopt consensus candidates for most national offices while retaining its existing zoning arrangement across the six geopolitical zones.
Ahead of the convention, the party confirmed that National Working Committee positions have been zoned to different regions of the country in line with the federal character principle.
Under the arrangement, the position of National Chairman is zoned to the North-Central, while the Deputy National Chairman (North) is zoned to the North-East and the Deputy National Chairman (South) is zoned to the South-East.
The position of National Secretary is zoned to the South-West, while the Deputy National Secretary is zoned to the North-Central.
The National Legal Adviser, National Financial Secretary and National Organising Secretary positions are zoned to the North-West, while the National Treasurer and National Welfare Secretary positions are zoned to the South-East.
The position of National Publicity Secretary and National Women Leader are zoned to the South-South, while the National Auditor is zoned to the North-East and the National Youth Leader is zoned to the South-West.
The positions of National Vice Chairmen are zoned to their respective geopolitical zones.
The chairman of the Convention Central Coordination Committee, Aminu Bello Masari, said aspirants could only contest positions zoned to their regions, noting that the arrangement was necessary to maintain balance and unity within the party.
“In line with federal character, all offices are zoned. The structures of the party are on zonal basis,” he said.
The convention is also expected to reinforce support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election, after party stakeholders earlier endorsed him as the party’s preferred presidential candidate.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, governors, lawmakers and ministers are among top government officials attending the convention.
The convention is expected to play a major role in shaping the party’s leadership structure and political strategy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It is also expected to determine the direction of the party as it prepares for the next electoral cycle.
Key decisions are expected to include the election of new National Working Committee members as well as decisions on party primaries, campaign preparations, and other internal party reforms ahead of the general elections.
