The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, has said the ruling party’s forthcoming national convention and congresses will reflect its expanding membership and growing diversity.
Yilwatda spoke on Thursday after a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He said the discussions focused on preparations for the party’s national convention and internal congresses, as well as coordination among key stakeholders within the party and government.
According to him, the pre-convention planning process has brought together the APC leadership, members of the National Assembly caucus and sub-national leaders to align timelines and harmonise activities ahead of the exercises.
“It was a brief meeting to review preparations for the convention and the congresses so that we can all be on the same page — the sub-national, the national, the National Assembly and the party,” he said.
Yilwatda explained that the party was aligning its timetable to ensure smooth coordination and inclusivity across all levels.
“We want to ensure inclusivity, both at the national and sub-national levels. I want to carry everybody along in the party,” he added.
The APC chairman noted that the party had continued to expand since President Tinubu assumed office, with new members and governors joining its ranks. He said this growth made it necessary to design processes that accommodate both long-standing members and new entrants without marginalisation.
“We have new members coming in, new governors, new stakeholders. The party is expanding every day, and we want to ensure that in the course of this growth, nobody is left behind,” he said.
The APC has recorded significant defections from opposition parties since the 2023 general elections and currently controls 29 of the 36 state governorship seats.
The national convention, scheduled for March 2026, is expected to shape the party’s internal realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, including decisions on zoning, leadership composition and the integration of emerging power blocs.
Yilwatda also described President Tinubu’s contribution at the meeting as crucial, citing his political experience as a key factor in the party’s recent expansion.
“Mr President is a seasoned politician with deep experience, and his advice was remarkable. The expansion and growth we are seeing are driven by his depth of knowledge of the political process,” he said.
