On Friday, Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) held its national convention at the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja. It was a colourful and grand event. The party’s enormous and sheer political power was brought to bear at the event. The occasion also underscored the monumental strength of the party in raw numbers with all the elected and appointed public officials gracing the occasion. Thousands of delegates from across the country attended the event.
Aside from other side attractions and sundry events that took place, the major highlight of the event was the announcement of the working committee that will pilot the affairs of the party at the national level. Members of the newly announced national working committee emerged through a consensus arrangement instead of open keenly contested elections. President Bola Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, governors, members of the national assembly, and other party leaders were at the convention.
At the convention, Nentawe Yilwatda, who was announced as the national chairman of the party last year after the former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, stepped down was reaffirmed while Ajibola Basiru retained his position as the party’s secretary. Felix Morka will also continue in his position as the party’s publicity secretary. In his acceptance speech, Yilwatda stated that his re-election was a call to greater service, noting that he was committed to unity within the ruling party.
“We are ready to serve, ready to lead, and we are ready to build the party, together with the nation,” he said.
FULL LIST OF APC NWC
• National chairman — Nentawe Yilwatda
• Deputy national chairman (north) — Ali Bukar Dalori
• Deputy national chairman (south) — Benjamin Obi Nwoye
• National secretary — Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru
• Deputy national secretary — AbdulKarim Abubakar Kana
• National legal adviser — Murtala Aliyu Kankia
• National treasurer — Uguru Mathew Ofoke
• National financial secretary — Haruna Ginsau
• National organising secretary — Muhammad Sulaiman Argungu
• National welfare secretary — Donatus Enyinnah Nwankpa
• National publicity secretary — Felix Morka
• National auditor — Abubakar Maikafi
• National women leader — Mary A. Idele
• National youth leader — Dayo Israel
• National leader (persons with disabilities) — Durotolu Oyebode Bankole
• Deputy national financial secretary — Hammam Adamu Ali Kumo
• Deputy national organising secretary — Emeka Okafor
• Deputy national women leader — Zainab Abubakar Ibrahim
• Deputy national publicity secretary — Meseko Durosinmi Josiah
• Deputy national welfare secretary — Christopher Michael Akpan
• Deputy national auditor — Olugbenga Olayemi
• Deputy national legal adviser — Ibrahim Salawu
• Deputy national treasurer — Ben Akak
• Deputy national youth leader — Jamaludeen Kabiru
• National eex officio(north-central) — Opawoye Oluwatoyin Bunmi
• National eex officio(north-east) — Adamu Jallah
• National eex officio(north-west) — Kano Muhammed Jamu Yusuf
• National eex officio(south-east) — Ikechukwu Umeh
• National eex officio(south-south) — Francis Kolokolo
• National eex officio(south-west) — Bunmi Orinowo
