8,453 Storm Abuja as APC Elects New Leadership; Yilwatda Re-elected Chairman While Tinubu is Affirmed for 2027 Run

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has successfully concluded its 8th National Convention, marking a decisive step toward the 2027 general elections. On Monday, March 30, 2026, the party’s new leadership began their first full week in office following a massive gathering at Eagle Square in Abuja that saw 8,453 accredited delegates decide the party’s future.

The convention, which ran from Friday, March 27, into the early hours of Saturday, was more than just an election; it was a “Solution” to internal divisions that had bubbled up during the state and zonal congresses. Through a carefully managed consensus arrangement, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda secured his position as National Chairman, while Dr. Ajibola Basiru was confirmed as National Secretary. The smooth transition “flipped the script” on predictions of chaos, with President Bola Tinubu describing the exercise as a “demonstration of democratic maturity.”

Beyond the NWC elections, the convention served as a powerful political statement. The thousands of delegates present unanimously affirmed President Tinubu as the party’s standard-bearer for the 2027 polls. Minister of Information Mohammed Idris noted that the massive turnout the largest in the party’s history showed that the “Renewed Hope” agenda still holds a strong grip on the party’s grassroots base across the six geopolitical zones.

With the 25-member National Working Committee now in place, the APC has moved directly into “election mode.” The new executives, including National Organizing Secretary Muhammad Sulaiman Argungu and Publicity Secretary Felix Morka, are tasked with integrating new heavyweights like Adamawa’s Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, who recently defected to the party. As the delegates return to their respective states, the message from Abuja is clear: the APC has consolidated its house and is ready for the long road to 2027.