THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared its readiness for a high-stakes national convention scheduled to hold on Saturday in Abuja, with party leaders expressing confidence that the event will proceed smoothly despite emerging challenges.
News Point Nigeria reports that the convention, expected to draw no fewer than 7,200 delegates from across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, will take place at the iconic Eagle Square, setting the stage for key decisions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking ahead of the gathering, APC National Chairman, Netanwe Yilwatda, assured party faithful that all necessary arrangements had been concluded for a successful outing.
Represented by the Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, Yilwatda said the party was not only prepared for the convention but also gearing up for its forthcoming primaries.
“We are prepared, and we look forward to Saturday when the convention will be held. We are here to celebrate and also to prepare for our primaries,” he said.
Acknowledging possible logistical and operational hurdles, the chairman maintained that such challenges were normal and would be effectively managed.
“APC has shown that it is resilient, built and anchored on time-tested ideology,” he added.
Chairman of the 2026 National Convention Central Coordinating Committee and former Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, echoed similar sentiments, insisting that preparations were on track.
“We are ready. You can see that we are ready,” Masari said, adding that challenges were inevitable but not insurmountable.
Also lending his voice, former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, who serves as Deputy Chairman of the committee, assured Nigerians that the convention would exceed expectations.
“Everything we are going to do about this convention will go beyond the expectations of the Nigerian public,” he said.
Ahead of the convention, the party is set to commence screening of aspirants for national offices, with Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of the Screening Committee, Biodun Oyebanji, promising a fair and transparent process.
Speaking at the inauguration of the committee at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Oyebanji emphasised that the exercise would strictly adhere to party guidelines and the Electoral Act.
“We are going to be transparent, fair, and just. The process will be governed by the constitution of the party and the law. Aspirants have nothing to fear,” he stated.
His position was reinforced by the committee’s Deputy Secretary, Philip Shaibu, who disclosed that about 30 aspirants would be screened for various positions.
Shaibu explained that to ensure efficiency, the National Working Committee positions had been divided into three categories, with separate teams handling each segment simultaneously.
Beyond the convention, APC leaders used the opportunity to project confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Former Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, said the party had demonstrated the capacity to organise a peaceful and impactful convention.
“We have shown capacity, energy, and vitality to drive the convention in absolute peace,” he said, adding that the party was repositioning to deliver a people-focused agenda.
Similarly, Senator Uche Ekwunife, secretary of the environment and sanitation sub-committee, expressed strong optimism about the party’s electoral prospects.
“We are not just prepared for the convention; we are prepared for the 2027 election. APC is going to win by a landslide,” she declared.
Party stakeholders also rallied behind President Bola Tinubu, with former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, defending the administration’s economic reforms.
Dogara likened the current economic difficulties to the pain that accompanies healing, noting that the long-term benefits would soon become evident.
“The reforms will take time, but Nigerians will see clearly why we should return him,” he said.