Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are rallying behind President Bola Tinubu ahead of the party’s 2027 convention, with plans already in motion to adopt him as the party’s sole presidential candidate.
Top party figures, including former Cross River governor Ben Ayade, ex-House Speaker Yakubu Dogara, and former Katsina governor Aminu Masari, made this known on Monday in Abuja during a pre-convention meeting.
The gathering was part of activities leading up to the APC National Convention scheduled for Friday and Saturday.
The message from the meeting was clear: the party leadership is closing ranks and positioning itself early for the next general election.
Ayade said the APC is focused on building a “new Nigeria” driven by policies that put people first. He also praised the state of the Federal Capital Territory, noting its cleanliness during the inspection tour.
More importantly, he hinted at the bigger picture the convention itself and what it represents.
“It is clear that the president has done well,” Ayade said. “We are here to celebrate the convention and, of course, the adoption of President Bola Tinubu.”
Masari, who chairs the Convention Central Coordination Committee, kept his remarks short and confident, saying the party is fully prepared for both the convention and the 2027 race.
Dogara, on his part, said the convention would go beyond routine party business.
According to him, it will be an opportunity for the APC to show Nigerians what it has achieved and where it is headed.
He acknowledged that ongoing reforms may be tough on citizens but insisted they are necessary.
“Just as injury comes with pain, healing also takes time,” Dogara said. “As these reforms begin to take shape, Nigerians will understand why the president deserves another term.”
Meanwhile, Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji, who heads the aspirants’ screening committee, assured party members of a fair and transparent process.
He said the committee would strictly follow the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act, adding that no aspirant would be unfairly treated.
Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo also pledged that the committee would deliver on its mandate, describing the assignment as a service not just to the APC, but to the country.
Senator Uche Ekwunife, secretary of the committee, went a step further, declaring that the party is not only ready for the convention but already gearing up for victory in 2027.
According to her, the APC is confident of securing a landslide win and returning Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima to office.
Governors Retain Zoning Formula
In a related development, APC governors, under the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), have agreed to retain the party’s current zoning arrangement for national offices.
The decision was reached after a late-night meeting that stretched into the early hours of the morning.
Imo State Governor and PGF Chairman, Hope Uzodimma, said there was no need to alter the zoning structure since the presidency remains in the South.
The governors also used the meeting to review national issues, including security, the economy, and global developments such as tensions in the Persian Gulf.
In a statement, the forum reaffirmed its support for Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” stressing the need for reforms that will deliver long-term stability and growth, even if they come with short-term challenges.
The governors maintained that true leadership is not just about handling immediate pressures but about laying a solid foundation for the future
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