Chibuzo Ukaibe writes on the import of the recent National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which were held same day in Abuja.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and its main rival and former ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), held two crucial meetings on Thursday.
The parties held their National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings in Abuja, gatherings that will largely define their trajectories ahead of the 2027 elections.
The NEC, for both parties, is the highest ranking party organ, second to the National Convention. As such, NEC resolutions are almost final, subject to change by itself or the National Convention.
Besides the interesting oddity of both parties holding the NEC same day, the agenda of the gatherings and their outcomes are intriguing.
In the APC, the central agenda was to fill a critical void – the national chairmanship seat. But it also needed to assure its faithful that the party is still on firm footing.
For the PDP, it was about trying to salvage what’s left after a long self-inflicted crisis which has left the hitherto ‘largest party in Africa’ prostrate after bleeding high profile members.
New chairman
The APC NEC meeting was primarily to get a new party chairman after the former national chairman and former Kano State governor, Dr Umar Ganduje, resigned on health grounds.
The meeting was preceded by demands from party leaders in the North Central for the return of the national chairman position to their geo-political zone as designed in 2022.
Ganduje, from the North West, had occupied the position after the resignation of the former chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, who hails from the North Central.
There was also a lobby by the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) bloc of the party for the position. Their demand was for the bloc to be more integrated in the party. For them, after the president, Muhammadu Buhari, left office, the CPC family, which he led, seemed to have been relegated somewhat, as they are not very visible both in government and in the party.
The contenders for the seat were mainly from the North Central, namely; former Nasarawa State governor, Senator Tanko Al-Makura; former Plateau State governor, Senator Joshua Dariye; former PDP national chairman, Barnabas Gemade and Prof Kailani.
However, as the meeting drew closer, the candidacy of the minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, came to media attention.
The race was eventually narrowed to Al-Makura (who is of the CPC bloc) and Yilwatda.
Yilwatda emerged as the choice of President Bola Tinubu, the governors and other stakeholders who preferred a Christian candidate from the North Central to balance the party’s same-faith presidential ticket.
This political consideration effectively knocked out Al-Makura, who was a front runner.
Besides coming from the North Central state of Plateau, stakeholders were also pleased with Yilwatda’s clean political record and academic background. And so for the first time, Yilwatda, who has not served as a governor or a senator, was picked to lead the ruling party.
Task ahead
For a party that needs to consolidate its internal cohesion and reposition for future elections, the new chairman is expected to not just reconcile members but oversee the party’s improved rating at the grassroots.
At the NEC gathering, President Tinubu hinted at this when he stressed the need for the party to reconnect with the grassroots.
Tinubu, while urging the APC governors to intensify efforts in delivering meaningful development to the grassroots, noted that Nigerians are still expressing discontent with the pace of governance and the dividends of democracy.
“Nigerians are still complaining at the grassroots,” the president declared. “To you the governors, you have to wet the grass more and lead the way in delivering progressive change to Nigerians. We need to strengthen our grassroots mobilisation and unity. We must not relent.”
Yilwatda, a former governorship candidate in Plateau State, set the tone for what his chairmanship will look like.
In his inauguration speech, he said, “I want to accept it with gratitude, with my full heart and full mind to work together with you, to build the party. All of us here are the mechanics of the party, and the party is our vehicle. We will fix it and move it to our destination of choice,” he said.
He assumed duty that same day. Addressing members of the National Working Committee (NWC), party supporters, staff and associates, he promised to work with other leaders to strengthen the party for electoral victories and consolidation of democracy.
He said APC’s doors were open to welcoming new members, including governors, lawmakers, amongst others, declaring that with such expansion, 2027 is a done deal for the party.
“We will expand beyond bounds, I’m sure by God’s grace, I’m sure the 2027 election is a done deal for APC,” he said.
However, pundits argue that his first task would be to ensure that any upsets created by his emergence are assuaged as timely as possible.
As the first chairman that was not a governor, he would need to toughen up and not be intimidated by governors who are likened to influential field commanders in political battles.
Having become the face of the ruling party, how he drives the process of winning back or consolidating Nigerians’ confidence, especially at the grassroots level, in the party will be interesting to see.
PDP’s tough talk amid split loyalty
On the same day, the former ruling party, PDP, was also holding its 101st NEC meeting at its national secretariat, popularly called Wadata Plaza.
For a party battered by internal crisis and mass defections, the NEC meeting was one way to assure itself and try to convince Nigerians they are still a force to reckon with.
At the meeting, the PDP national chairman, Amb. Illiya Damagum, dismissed the threat of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and warned party members not to associate with them.
The Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, who is also the chairman of the party’s governors’ forum, declared that the party would give the ruling APC a good fight in 2027.
Other party leaders like the Senate minority leader, Senator Abba Moro and his House of Representatives counterpart, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, also took turns to dismiss the defections from PDP in the National Assembly. The leaders were quite upbeat that the party is on a rebound following the exit of some influential members led by former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, who is one of the coalition party ADC.
The party’s proposed National Convention was also a major theme of the NEC. With the date fixed for November in Ibadan, many party watchers would assume that the exit of the current conflict-prone National Working Committee (NWC) and election of a new set of party leaders might help resolve the party’s crisis.
Nevertheless, at the last count, 39 federal lawmakers (Senate of House of Representatives members) have dumped PDP for the APC in just two years of Tinubu’s administration.
That isn’t all. The party also battles with internal contradictions bordering on who top members have openly pledged allegiance to ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Some party leaders, like Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister Nyesom Wike; Osun State governor,
Senator Ademola Adeleke; and former Benue Governor, Samuel Ortom, have declared support for Tinubu in 2027.
Other leaders like former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, said they will not leave PDP but would support the candidate of ADC. Still, others like Prof Jerry Gana, said the party was making overtures to former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to return.
ADC factor
There is no denying that the ADC has altered the political equation in the country. If nothing, the new coalition party has forced the two major parties to pay closer attention to events within their folds and in the country at large. It remains unclear whether or not the new platform can replicate the 2015 feat of the APC.
Reacting to the outcome of the APC NEC meeting, a former chairman of special presidential investigation panel for Recovery of Public Property, Okoi Obono-Obla, congratulated Prof Yilwatda on his emergence as the APC national chairman, adding that it marks a new era for Nigeria’s largest political party—and potentially for African democracy itself.
The APC chieftain said, “As an accomplished academic, engineer, and administrator, his leadership arrives at a pivotal moment. We trust he will bring his wealth of experience to bear in rebranding and reforming the APC to reflect its founding ideals.”
He however said the party is in urgent need of: Innovation and inclusivity, Internal democracy and constitutionalism, and Transparent reforms of its principal organs.
“We hope he will swiftly initiate these reforms to reposition the party and transform it into a genuine vehicle for credible candidates and fair elections. The time for visionary leadership is now.
“We recognise the intricate geopolitical landscape of Nigeria, which the president is strategically navigating. The appointment of the APC national chairman is a calculated and nuanced decision—a masterstroke aimed at appealing to the delicate mosaic of sociopolitical dynamics across the country. Detractors had anxiously waited in the wings, ready to roast the party and awaken centrifugal and divisive forces to land a decisive blow. Kudos must be given to the leadership for subtly navigating and maneuvering around this treacherous trajectory and the booby traps strewn along our path.
“However, the party must promptly reconcile tendencies, blocs, factions, and wings that feel aggrieved over sidelining and marginalization. Only through reconciliation can we build a cohesive and united front to face the next electoral battle as one,” he told LEADERSHIP Sunday.
Another APC chieftain, Chief Chukwuemeka Eze, said the NEC meetings of the two parties were targeted at making an impact in 2027.
Eze, a former national publicity secretary of defunct nPDP, said “Both parties are free to hold their NEC meetings and I have nothing against such a meeting as all the parties are all scheming on how to make an impact in the 2027 general election.”
On his part, the national coordinator of Niger Delta Media Activist Group and Excellent Leadership Foundation, Chief lzzl Yakiah, told LEADERSHIP that APC had been better at strategy than the PDP.
He said, “The political landscape ahead of 2027 is gradually evolving with major political parties re- positioning and strategically their political trajectory with meetings being held on the same day at different venues.
“The ruling party APC has actually engaged in major political engineering with landmark defections from opposition parties leading to assembly of coalition forces with the objective of power takeover in 2027.
“However, there are speculation of Nigeria drifting into one party state but l sincerely place the blame on the foot of PDP for its consistent inability to effectively carryout intelligent and people driven strategic opposition to the ruling government by proffering practical advice, solutions and alternative to good governance rather the pdp have been enmarched in internal power structure struggle and Leadership crisis giving the Apc a smooth ride to 2027,” Yakiah said.
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