APC convention: 32 governors, 8,450 delegates arrive Abuja

President Bola Tinubu, members of his cabinet, 32 state governors, and 8,453 delegates from across the country are expected in Abuja for the national convention of the All Progressives Congress, scheduled for Friday (today) and Saturday.

Top party figures from national, zonal, state, and ward levels are also set to attend the convention, where new party leaders will be elected.

Mohammed Idris, co-chairman of the media sub-committee for the convention and minister of information and national orientation,  disclosed this during the APC World Media Briefing held at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja on Thursday.

Idris explained that the theme of the convention, “Unity in Progress: Consolidating the Renewed Hope Agenda,” reflects the party’s identity, progress, and future direction.

He stated, “The convention hopes to bring together delegates from across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory for policy engagement, leadership elections, and a formal transition to a new set of party executives, presenting both decision-making platforms and also a moment of reflection, consolidation, and direction-setting for the next phase of our journey.

“We are expecting a total of 8,453 delegates. These are the delegates that we are expecting to come from across the 36 states of the Federation to Abuja.

“The forthcoming National Convention marks another milestone in our journey, reflecting both the continuity of our values and the renewal of our leadership. It offers an opportunity to highlight the party’s achievements under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and to show how his guiding vision is being transformed into tangible outcomes for Nigerians.’’

He continued, “The Renewed Hope Agenda remains central. It guides policy direction, national development, and engagement with Nigerians’ aspirations. The convention is, therefore, also an opportunity to deepen this agenda within our leadership and institutional structure, ensuring that the party and government remain aligned in purpose.”

The minister stressed that the APC would continue to operate as a broad-based political platform that accommodates diverse opinions while maintaining unity, describing such diversity as a strength rooted in commitment to national progress.

He added, “All arrangements have therefore been concluded for a smooth, transparent, and credible convention at the iconic Eagle Square here in Abuja, as stated in the official notices that we have provided.

‘’All the committees that have been set up by the party have finalised their assignments and operational systems to ensure smooth coordination, efficiency, and order. Every detail has been attended to so that the convention proceeds without avoidable disruption.”

In his remarks, the Chairman of the APC National Convention Central Coordinating Committee and former Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, said the party is operating strictly within its zoning framework and noted that no litigation affecting the convention has been brought to their attention.

Masari said the 25 sub-committees involved in the planning are satisfied with the level of preparation so far.

“We assure Nigerians and even those outside Nigeria that the APC is very ready for the 2026 convention, which will start in the early hours of tomorrow (today).”

Responding to questions on zoning-related disputes, he emphasised that the party adheres to federal character principles in allocating positions.

“Like I said, and I will repeat, APC is a responsible party in Nigeria. In line with federal character, all offices are zoned. If you come to buy a form, and you are buying a form, only buy the form zoned to your zone.

‘’When there is zoning in A, and you are in Z, and you want to buy a form in A, we suspect that you are only there to create confusion. So, who likes confusion? The way our country is, the structures of the party are on a zonal basis. The NWC members are distributed according to zones.’’

“So, if you are contesting for an office that is not zoned to your zone, how can you say you are being democratic? We suspect that these kinds of people are interested, maybe as agents, to come and destroy our party, which we will not agree to. And I know Nigerians will not agree.

“We are not aware that anybody has gone to court. We have not been served. I am sure you know we are a responsible party. If we are served, we will take notice of that. Can you pay for something that you don’t have? You can only hold something that you have,” he stressed.

Ahead of the convention, some party members had accused the leadership of excluding them from the process.

A party chieftain, Fubara Dagogo, filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, protesting his exclusion from the South-South Zonal Congress held in Asaba on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, despite meeting all constitutional requirements, including payment of N5.1 million for the nomination form.

However, Taraba State Governor and Chairman of the APC National Convention Appeals Committee, Agbu Kefas, expressed optimism that the convention would proceed without disruption.

Speaking after the committee’s meeting on Thursday night, Kefas said preparations were sufficient to address any unexpected issues.

He stated, “I don’t think we are envisaging any problem, but we always have to be prepared. These are processes and procedures for this kind of election.

“We are going to the convention, and you cannot completely rule out anything. But with what we have done so far, I think we will have a very hitch-free exercise.”