Abuja, Nigeria — The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has returned Nentawe Yilwatda and Ajibola Basiru as its national chairman and national secretary, respectively, following its fourth elective national convention held on Friday in Abuja.
The convention, which took place at Eagle Square, saw both officials re-elected unopposed as part of a broader consensus arrangement adopted by the party. Their emergence was formally announced by the party’s convention election committee alongside other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) who were similarly returned without contest.
The development follows the APC’s earlier decision to retain its existing zoning formula for party offices. In a statement issued last week, the party’s national publicity secretary, Felix Morka, confirmed that the zoning arrangement remains in effect and is reflected in the party’s official schedule for its 2026 nationwide congresses and national convention activities.
Morka explained that the zoning formula, which distributes party positions across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, continues to guide the selection of NWC members. He also urged aspirants seeking national offices within the party to strictly comply with the established framework.
“In furtherance of this decision, the positions of national chairman and national secretary were filled through consensus, with no opposing candidates,” he stated.
The convention, themed “Unity in Progress: Consolidating the Renewed Hope Agenda,” drew top political figures from across the country. Among those in attendance were President Bola Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas.
The event was organised by a convention planning committee co-chaired by former Katsina State governor Aminu Masari and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim.
Providing insight into the scale of the gathering, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed that a total of 8,453 accredited delegates participated in the convention.
The re-election of Yilwatda and Basiru is seen as a continuation of the party’s leadership structure as it seeks to strengthen internal unity and advance its policy direction under the current administration.
