APC to Elect National Leaders by Consensus at March Convention

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has confirmed plans to adopt a consensus approach for selecting its national leadership during the party’s convention scheduled for March 27–28, 2026, in Abuja.

Mary Ikoku, Assistant Secretary for Media and Publicity for the APC National Convention 2026, disclosed the plan during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday.

On the issue of elective positions during primaries, Ikoku explained that the party has not yet finalized how these will be handled, as decisions may vary depending on local political dynamics.

“APC, for this convention, I am aware and can say that the party is adopting consensus for this convention. As to whether they are adopting consensus for elective positions, I do not have an answer because politics is local,” she said.

Ikoku also addressed provisions in the Electoral Act requiring political parties to register members online within specified timelines and outlining acceptable methods for candidate selection. She noted that while these requirements posed challenges for some parties, they reflect the level of preparedness—or lack thereof—of political organizations.

“We have an electoral law that defines the models for these elections. Direct primaries and consensus have been allowed, while indirect primaries have been removed. Any political party that is worth its salt should plan ahead rather than wait until election season,” she added.

Ahead of the convention, the APC began screening aspirants for key positions in its National Working Committee (NWC), including:

National Chairman aspirant Nentawe Yilwatda

National Secretary hopeful Ajibola Basiru

Other NWC members seeking to retain their positions include National Youth Leader Dayo Israel, Deputy National Chairman (North) Ali Bukar Dalori, National Legal Adviser Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana, National Woman Leader Mary Alile Idele, and National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka.

The party’s consensus approach aims to ensure unity and smooth transitions in leadership while adhering to the current legal framework governing internal party elections.