Concessions to defecting governors as APC begins congresses

As the ward congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) commenced yesterday, there were concessions for governors who recently defected to the party while key officials emerged through consensus arrangements.

Our correspondents learnt that in states where the governors defected to the party newly, arrangement were made to accommodate their interests by allocating certain percentages of key positions in the  executive committees to them.

The arrangement is in recognition of the roles of the governors as party leaders in their respective states

State governors of Taraba; Kano; Plateau; Bayelsa; Delta and Enugu defected to the APC in 2025 creating new concerns about how to integrate and accommodate them with the party structure.

In some other states like Osun; Benue and Oyo there are factions owing to the rivalry between leaders of the party.

The congresses are ahead the national convention of the party which is scheduled for 27th–28th March 2026.

Osun, Ekiti and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are excluded from the congresses due to upcoming elections, while Rivers State is excluded due to the subsisting tenure of the current executive committees of the party in the state.

Our correspondents report that the agreements with the governors vary according to states.

Kano APC  reaffirms 60/40 sharing formula

In Kano, the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, said  the APC national chairman reaffirmed the adoption of a 60/40 leadership-sharing formula between new decampees and existing party members in the state.

He said the arrangement was designed to promote inclusiveness, unity and effective participation of

Our correspondent confirmed the ward congresses of the party commenced across the state, amid renewed assurances of inclusiveness following recent political realignments.

As of the time of filing this report, the Kano APC leadership had yet to issue an official statement on the progress of the ward congresses across the state.

In Plateau, where the governor also recently defected to the APC, our correspondent gathered that the new entrants  and old members agreed on a sharing formula of 60/40, with those in  government taking 60% and the old members  taking 40% of the EXCO.

An insider told our correspondent that in Kanke LG where the national chairman hails from, all the slots have been conceded to him while in Mangu LG all the seats have been conceded to the governor.

Our correspondent also confirmed that the ward congresses of the APC have commenced in various local government areas in Plateau state. and most of the exercises were concluded peacefully.

Publicity Secretary of the party, Shittu Bamayi, when contacted about the authenticity of the sharing formula, said he could not comment on the issue as he is out of town.

In Taraba, publicity secretary of the party Aaron Artimas disclosed to Daily Trust that both old members and those that joined the party recently are being  given equal opportunity during the Congress.

He  said Governor Agbu Kefas did not indicate his interest to have any slots for any  position in the ward and local government Congress of the party.

According to him,the state executive officers of the party would soon have their tenure expire and the governor directed that any member old and new who have interest to contest any position should be allow to contest

However sources within the party told Daily Trust that though the governor directed that all  members that have interest to contest any position should be allowed  to do so, he may have interest in some key positions in the state executive of the party.

The source said the governor is having interest in the state chairman,the state secretary, women and youth leader of the party because they are all delegates  in the governorship congress of the party.

However the ward  congress is being conducted across all the wards in the 16 local government areas without any hitch or confrontation

Bayelsa:  Diri moves for 100 per cent

With the results from the just concluded ward congresses of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Governor Douye Diri, appears to have taken full control of the structures of the parties at ward levels.

Prior to Governor Diri’s defection to the party last October, APC structures from ward to state level was controlled by former Governor Timipre Sylva, who was the leader of the party at that time.

Daily Trust gathered that with the problems Sylva is currently having with President Bola Tinubu’s government, which has kept him out of the country, structures in the party are in the kitty of the governor.

Despite the complainants leading to the ward congresses, the exercise was generally peaceful, as no incident of violence was recorded across the state.

Governor Douye Diri during a stakeholders meeting earlier in the week in preparation for the congresses had directed that party officials at all levels be picked through consensus, a situation that played out today.

Across the eight local government areas of the state, party, faithfuls queued up to elect their ward leaders in the consensus arrangements.

A reliable source within the state chapter of APC, who is an official in the party, informed Daily Trust that there are arrangements to replace the incumbent State Chairman, Barr Dennis Otiotio and some other officials of the party, for the governor to have his own men he will work with during the 2027 general election.

It was gathered that, the sharing formula also ceded some offices at the state chapter to the original members of APC, while the new members who joined the party with the governor will occupy the chairmanship and secretary positions when the state congress is held.

Daily Trust gathered that the arrangements is so because, the original member of APC, Chief Timipa Tiwei Orunimighe, has taken over as the Coordinator of Renewed Hope Ambassadors in the state, as well as other leadership positions in the group.

Also at local government level, Daily Trust gathered that the three local government areas of Bayelsa central have been given to Governor Diri to nominate officials into the chapter leadership of the party.

While the two local government area in Bayelsa West is ceded to the Minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, to nominate from the old members of APC into positions in the chapter.

Also, in the three local government areas of Bayelsa East, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Abraham Ngobere, the Senator representing the district, Benson Agadaga and Senator Biobarakuma Degi Eremienyo, have been handed over the slots to produce the chapter officers in the area.

A source told Daily Trust that the incumbent chairman of APC in Bayelsa State, Barr. Dennis Otiotio, could be compensated with other government position if he is unable to retain his position after the state congress.

APC chairman in Bayelsa State, Barr. Dennis Otiotio, could not be reached for comment on the concession given by the party to the governor, as he

Peaceful in Kwara

In  Kwara State chapter the APC affirmed its leadership structure at the ward level as the party conducted congresses across all 193 wards in the state.

The exercise, which was monitored by officials from the party’s national secretariat, was largely peaceful in areas visited by reporters in Ilorin, the state capital, and parts of Asa, Ekiti, and Baruten local government areas.

Party leaders emerged through affirmation in most of the places.

Speaking at the party secretariat in Ilorin, the state chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, said the adoption of affirmation was intended to minimise rancour and promote unity within the ranks.

He said reports received from across the wards indicated a smooth and orderly exercise.

Chairman of the Congress Committee and Deputy Chairman of the party in the state, Alhaji Abdullahi Samari, said all participants had undergone screening prior to the exercise.

Secretary of the screening committee, Oche Muhammed, also said that the list of aspirants was vetted ahead of the congress, describing the conduct as peaceful in the wards where results had begun to emerge.

At the local government level, Chairman of the party in Ilorin West, Hon. Suleiman Tejidini, said the congress was conducted across the 12 wards in the area, with stakeholders including elders, women, and youth participating actively.

Similarly, Chairman of Ilorin West Local Government, Alhaji AbdulRahman Babatunde Ladan, described the exercise as peaceful, noting that it amounted to the reaffirmation of existing executives.

Reports from both the Southern and Northern Senatorial Districts indicated that the congress proceeded without disruption.

Consensus in Kebbi

In kebbi ward executives were elected through consensus and affirmation.

Former Deputy Governor, Bauchi State and Chairman Election Committee, Speaking during the ward election exercise, Abdulmalik Mahmud, said the party’s constitution provided for either election or consensus.

He said “We are happy that Kebbi opted for consensus. The committee is satisfied with what transpired, I hope other states will borrow a leave from Kebbi”.

The State Chairman of APC, Alhaji Abubakar Kana-Zuru in his remarks said  elders of the party had resolved that any exco that had spent eight years should step aside for other to contribute their quota to the development of the party and the state at large.

He urged them to be loyal and ensure that they carry all manner of people along to give all a sense of belonging

He said Marafa ward was the the biggest wards among all the 225 wards across the state. He urged the newly elected ward executives to be loyal to the party

Governor Nasir Idris charged the newly elected APC ward leaders in the state to promote unity amongst members and ensure party supremacy. The governor expressed satisfaction with the congresses observed in the state saying it’s  peaceful conduct signifies that Kebbi is peaceful.

He assured the new exco that government would work hand-in-hand with them to collectively take Kebbi to greater heights.

In Benue, heavy security was put in place as the ward congresses started in the 23 local government areas of the state.

In Kaduna the APC ward congress election was said to be through consensus.

When our reporter contacted the state party spokesman, Tanko Wosono, he confirmed that the election was supposed to start on February 18 as scheduled in the calendar.

He then directed the reporter to contact the state party secretary, Yahaya Baba Pate, for more information.

The reporter called Baba Pate, but he did not answer his phone or reply to the text message sent to him.

NWC suspends Abia congresses

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended the conduct of its state, local government and ward congresses in Abia State, citing ongoing consultations within the party.

This is contained in a statement signed by the National Chairman of the party, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, and National Secretary, Senator Basiru Ajibola, on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the suspension was due to ongoing consultations and the need to conclude certain preparatory and administrative processes.

The statement said this would ensure the orderly, transparent and credible conduct of the congresses in the state.

It added that the party will communicate the revised schedule of activities to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Although no new date has been fixed for the exercise, party sources said the suspension is aimed at fostering unity and ensuring a smooth, transparent and credible congress when eventually held.

The congresses are expected to produce party executives at the ward, local government and state levels, forming the structure that will steer the party’s activities in Abia.

Further details on the rescheduled timetable are anticipated from the party’s national secretariat after the conclusion of consultations.

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