Convention: How APC Shut Out Disgruntled Members, Raked N137.7m From Forms

The seeming tough stance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has shut out some disgruntled members of the party who took a shot at certain National Working Committee(NWC) positions.

APC at its National Convention held at Eagle Square in Abuja on Friday night re-elected almost all serving members of the NWC, with just three replaced by new entrants through consensus.

The new NWC members include: National Chairman, Prof Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda (Plateau); Deputy National Chairman (North), Hon. Abubakar Dalori (Borno); Deputy National Chairman (South), Dr Ben Nwoye (Enugu); National Secretary, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru (Osun); Deputy National Secretary, Prof. Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana (Nasarawa); National Vice Chairman (North Central), Mu’azu Bawa Rijau (Niger); Deputy Vice Chairman (North East), Dr Mustapha Salihu (Adamawa); National Vice Chairman (North West), Hon. Mohammed Datti (Kaduna); National Vice Chairman (South East), Dr Ijeomah Arodiogbu (Imo); National Vice Chairman (South South), Hon. Victor Giadom (Rivers) and National Vice Chairman (South West), D. I. Kekemeke (Ondo).

Others are National Legal Adviser; Muritala Aliyu Kankia (Katsina), National Treasurer: Uguru Matthew Ofoke (Ebonyi), National Financial Secretary; Haruna Ginsau (Jigawa), National Organising Secretary: Suleiman  Argungun (Kebbi), National Welfare Secretary: Hon. Ignatus Nwapa (Abia), National Publicity Secretary: Felix Morka (Delta), National Auditor: Sen Abubakar Maikafi (Bauchi)’ National Women Leader: Dr. Mary Alile-Idele (Edo), National Youth Leader: Abdullahi Dayo Israel (Lagos), Special (Persons With Disability) Leader: Tolu Bankole (Ogun), Deputy National Organising Secretary:  Hon. Emeka Okafor (Anambra), Deputy National Women Leader; Hon. Zainab Ibrahim (Taraba) and Deputy National Financial Secretary: Hon. Hamma-Adama Ali Kumo (Gombe) and Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Duro Meseko.

However, three members of the immediate past NWC did not return. They are former Deputy National Chairman (South), Hon. Emma Eneukwu (Enugu); Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru (Anambra); and National Financial Secretary, Hon. Bashir Gumel (Jigawa).

The emergence of both the immediate past and new NWC members, as well as non- NWC national officers of the party, followed the adoption of the consensus mode of election.

The motion to that effect was moved by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio(APC, Akwa Ibom), and it was seconded by the chairman of APC governors, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, while it was affirmed through a voice vote by delegates at the convention.

The consensus approach for selecting NWC members marks a significant step toward unity within the party, ensuring that future leadership decisions reflect collective agreement and strengthen the APC ahead of upcoming political engagements.

The three aspirants – Eneukwu, Gumel and  Duru went through the process of buying forms and screening, but the consensus method was adopted in favour of their rivals for positions contested.

Also, three aspirants for different positions alleged that the process was skewed to shut others out, alleging that they were denied forms after payment amid irregularities.

One of the aspirants who contested for the position of National Secretary of APC, Hon. Oyiborume Paul Yovwe, had alleged that party officials refused to issue him a nomination form despite paying the required fee.

Yovwe told journalists at the party’s national secretariat that he had followed all stipulated procedures, including obtaining the official publication and paying the prescribed fee at the bank.

According to him, after making the payment, he presented the teller at the party’s finance department for confirmation but was allegedly informed that the form for the office of National Secretary had already been “assigned” to the incumbent.

“I went to the bank to pay for the form and spoke to the teller. When I brought it to the finance department for confirmation, they refused to convert it to a receipt and told me the form had already been attached to one person, the current National Secretary,” Yovwe said.

He described the development as undemocratic, arguing that the convention should be open and competitive.

“This is a ruling party preparing for a national convention. How can positions be allocated without allowing members to contest? The convention is meant to give delegates the opportunity to choose their leaders,” he stated.

The aspirant, who said he was a founding member of the party, maintained that the party’s constitution does not prohibit him from contesting the position.

While acknowledging that the presidency is currently held by Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the South-West, Yovwe argued that the office of National Secretary should remain open to aspirants from the South-South zone.

He also insisted that the party’s zoning arrangements are largely based on consensus rather than strict constitutional provisions.

“The constitution of Nigeria is superior, and there is nothing in it that makes zoning compulsory. Zoning is usually based on mutual understanding within the party. All we are asking is simple: give us our forms and let us contest. If someone believes he is popular and capable, let the delegates decide at the convention,” he said.

Another aspirant for Vice Chairman, South-South, Fubara Dagogo, also alleged that party officials refused to issue him a nomination form despite meeting all requirements.

Dagogo, who spoke with journalists at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, explained that he had completed the payment process and obtained all necessary documentation, including receipts and verification from the accounts department, in line with the party’s guidelines.

He said after fulfilling these conditions, he proceeded to the organising department to collect the nomination form but was repeatedly told it was unavailable.

“I paid N5.1 million as stipulated and was issued receipts accordingly. I followed due process, but I have not been given the form. When I got to the organising office, they told me there was no form, yet I could see forms being moved around. That raises serious questions,” he added.

Also, an aspirant for the National Vice Chairman (North-East), Dr Umar Duhu, had written the party’s national leadership, alleging refusal to issue nomination forms and other irregularities.

In a letter addressed to the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, the aspirant expressed grave concern that the party is flagrantly violating its own Constitution and the Nigerian Constitution by subverting democratic processes.

Duhu, a founding member and pioneer National Vice Chairman (North-East) of APC, noted that certain individuals have unlawfully usurped party mechanisms, breaching Sections 221 and 222 of the Nigerian Constitution and Articles 9, 10, and 13 of the APC Constitution.

“My presence at the APC National Secretariat (40 Blantyre Street, Abuja) confirmed that some outgoing National Working Committee (NWC) has directed staff at the National Secretariat to withhold Nomination Forms from aspirants who lawfully paid for them ahead of the 27–28 March 2026 National Convention.

“Citing the absent National Financial Secretary’s required ‘confirmation’ is a mala fide pretext violating APC’s Constitutional duty to facilitate transparent elections (APC Constitution, Article 13).

“There is no place under our laws where some folks should be judges in his own case. This directive is an affront to Natural justice.I have also been reliably informed at the National Secretariat yesterday that Comrade Mustapha Salihu had issued a directive forbidding the issuance of North-East forms without his approval.

“This ultra vires act contravenes APC’s commitment to internal democracy (Section 222, Nigerian Constitution) and amounts to actionable disenfranchisement,” the letter reads in parts.

He requested the party to allow him to take and complete his nomination form for the position of National Vice Chairman, North East; undergo screening and contest for the said position in accordance with the APC Constitution and electoral guidelines.

“Where these fail, people may pursue: (1) Public disclosure of these Constitutional breaches, or (2) Judicial process to nullify proceedings non-compliant with APC’s Constitution and Nigerian Law. Our Party risks legitimising PDP-like implosion if impunity by some opportunistic few persists unchecked.

“National Chairman, sir, it’s time to assert leadership: declare that all who paid for nomination forms receive them on Monday. Allowing officers overstep their bounds undermines APC’s democratic core.APC must uphold its Constitution, or we will ultimately face Legal Ruin,” the letter added.

In another letter addressed to the APC National Secretary, Sen. Ajibola Basiru, the aspirant alleged grave irregularities and constitutional breaches surrounding the Adamawa State APC National Vice Chairmanship slot.

Duhu said consensus demands stakeholder engagement and its absence necessitates recourse to democratic processes, noting that it was neither observed for the said position as contestants were sidelined and leaders imposed their will without consultation.

According to him, “selling multiple forms to those you desire and denying others who paid, contravenes Section 222 of the Constitution and APC Article 13 and smells selective justice. Why are some privileged while others are excluded?

“Mal. Nuhu Ribadu, a seasoned Public Officer, would definitely uphold democratic principles, not endorse unilateral actions. His silence this far suggests non-involvement, implying the NWC acted without his authority.

“Earlier on in Yola, Comrade Mustapha Salihu bypassed due process in foisting an unelected Idris as State Chairman, undermining party democracy. This backdoor manoeuvre contradicts the APC’s ethos and disenfranchises legitimate contestants.

“Sir, the totality of these acts violates Sections 221-222 of the Nigerian Constitution and APC Articles 9, 10, 13. As a founding member and pioneer National Vice Chairman North-East, I reject this usurpation and will not accept certain individuals to unlawfully usurp party mechanisms, breaching Sections 221 and 222 of the Nigerian Constitution and Articles 9, 10, and 13 of the APC Constitution.

“In this regard, if forms are not issued to me and all those deserving by Monday, March 23, 2026, APC’s Zonal / National Conventions will immediately risk collapse. And as the ruling party, this would prove disastrous.”

Speaking on the issue, the APC national chairman said it could be a result of not following the procedure or the zoning system approved by the National Executive Committee (NEC).

“You said some people paid for forms, and they were not given receipts. What are the timetables? There are days when we give people days that they should pay for forms. We have days when we let people come and receive receipts. We also have time for you to present the receipts to the finance team so they can get your forms.

“So if you miss any of the timelines, of course, we will not give you a form. And that is what, as I said, we are system people. We’re not single individuals, but we work with the system. So if the system does not permit, of course, we will not do that.

“Secondly, we have zoning that was approved by the NEC. To pick a form, you must be within the zone approved by the NEC, because the NEC is superior to any individual. So you must subject yourself to the system. So, the zoning was specified and approved by the NEC last December. So you must be within the zoning that was provided for you to have a form, and you have to pick a form,” he said.

Meanwhile, APC has raked in ₦137.7 million from the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms for the NWC and non-NWC positions at the immediate past National Convention, in which 37 aspirants participated.

APC put N100,000 for the expression of interest form for aspirants contesting positions.

Applicants for the office of National Chairman were required to purchase nomination forms at N10 million, while those seeking the positions of Deputy National Chairman and National Secretary were to pay N7.5 million each.

Nomination forms for the remaining positions in the National Working Committee were priced at N5 million each, while aspirants for non-NWC positions purchased forms at N250,000 each.