President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, members of the Federal Executive Council, 32 state governors, and thousands of delegates has converged in Abuja for the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as political tensions and logistical challenges shadow the event.
The convention, scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Eagle Square, is expected to usher in a new leadership for the party while shaping alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed during a media briefing that 8,453 delegates from across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory are participating in the exercise.
He said the theme, “Unity in Progress: Consolidating the Renewed Hope Agenda,” reflects both the party’s strategic direction and the administration’s policy priorities.
According to Idris, the gathering goes beyond leadership transition, serving as a platform for policy alignment and consolidation of the government’s agenda. He added that preparations had been finalised to ensure a smooth and credible process.
Several top government officials are in attendance, including Ministers Hannatu Musawa and Festus Keyamo, alongside presidential aides such as Sunday Dare and Bayo Onanuga.
Despite the public display of unity, internal disagreements have surfaced ahead of the convention.
A party member, Fubara Dagogo, filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, alleging exclusion from the South-South Zonal Congress despite reportedly paying N5.1 million for nomination forms. Another aspirant, Paul Oyiborume, has raised similar concerns but has yet to seek legal redress.
Dagogo, however, indicated a preference for resolving the matter through the party’s internal mechanisms rather than pursuing an injunction to stop the convention.
“I believe the party’s internal mechanism is key to resolving this,” he said.
Chairman of the Convention’s Central Coordinating Committee, Aminu Bello Masari, dismissed concerns over litigation, stating that the party was not aware of any pending court action.
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He also defended the zoning arrangement, warning that aspirants contesting positions outside designated regions risk creating instability within the party.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Convention Appeals Committee, Agbu Kefas, expressed optimism about the process, though he acknowledged that minor challenges could arise.
The scale of the convention has also led to significant disruptions within the Federal Capital Territory.
The Federal Government directed civil servants working within the Federal Secretariat to stay at home due to road closures around the venue. The directive, signed by Permanent Secretary Abdul Garba, cited security and logistical concerns.
All major access routes to the Secretariat Complex are expected to remain closed throughout the two-day event.
The influx of delegates has also put pressure on accommodation in Abuja, with major hotels such as Transcorp Hilton Abuja and NICON Luxury Hotel fully booked. Reports indicate that even budget hotels have reached capacity, forcing some visitors to seek lodging on the outskirts of the city.
The convention is expected to conclude with the emergence of new party executives and a strengthened political structure as the ruling party prepares for the next election cycle.
