Tension in APC as Speculation Mounts Over Tenure Extension for Party Executives

There is growing unease within the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the possibility of extending the tenure of its executive committees across the country.

Naija News reports that the tension stems from the approaching December deadline for the conduct of congresses and the party’s national convention, which are yet to be formally scheduled.

According to findings by Leadership, many stakeholders are waiting to see what position President Bola Tinubu will take on the matter as the party prepares for the 2027 general election.

The APC last conducted its ward, local government, and state congresses in 2021, while its national convention, which produced Senator Abdullahi Adamu as national chairman and Senator Iyiola Omisore as national secretary, was held in March 2022.

Although the National Working Committee (NWC) recently announced plans to release a timetable for fresh congresses, indications have emerged that the tenure of the current executives may be extended beyond 2027.

A top party source told Leadership that the extension is being considered to prevent disputes and litigations that could destabilise the party ahead of its primaries.

However, the proposed extension has unsettled some APC governors, especially those who inherited party structures from their predecessors.

They reportedly fear that such an arrangement could strengthen executives loyal to rival factions, thereby weakening their grip on delegate selection processes before the 2027 elections.

For now, the party hierarchy is said to be awaiting President Tinubu’s decision before making a formal announcement.

The source said, “You know all pressures have always been on us at the NWC level, and it does appear that most of the pressure to take total control of the structures across the board has always been coming from the state governors.

“It is more so because we know who we have as president; he is a politically active and strategic man who believes that planning ahead means a lot in politics.

“However, he has been silent about whether or not there would be congresses.

“So far, it seems the president’s body language tilts towards retaining the existing structures; it seems doubtful that there will be elective congresses and a national convention across the board except for a few exceptions.”

The source further stated that the plan may include moving a motion during the convention to retain all executives from the national to the ward level until after the 2027 elections.

The source noted that the decision is primarily informed by lessons from the 2019 general elections, when internal crises emanating from congresses led to the loss of Zamfara State and the exclusion of APC candidates from the Rivers State ballot.

“The President is aware that some aggrieved former APC leaders, now in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), still have loyalists within the fold who could instigate crises if congresses are held,” the source disclosed.