The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has re-elected Professor Nentawe Yilwatda and Senator Ajibola Basiru as National Chairman and National Secretary respectively through consensus during its 4th Elective National Convention at Eagles Square, Abuja.
Other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) were also elected through consensus on Friday night at the convention chaired by a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Bello Masari.
The convention attended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas among others also witnessed the ratification of the congresses conducted at ward, local government and state level as well as the extension of the tenure of Caretaker Committee of the party in Ekiti and Osun states.
The National Legal Adviser of the party moved the motion for the dissolution of party national executives in order to elect new members of National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC and seconded by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary.
The Speaker of the House of the Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, moved the motion for the adoption of consensus as mode of election of national officers at the convention and was seconded by the Governor of Kaduna State and Vice Chairman of Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Senator Uba Sani.
The convention adopted the congresses conducted at ward, local government and state level following a motion moved by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio and seconded by the Governor of Imo State and Chairman of the PGF, Hope Uzodimma.
The convention also approved the extension of the tenure of the Caretaker Committee in Ekiti and Osun states in the interest of party unity.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the convention planning committee, Masari, has dismissed the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) as lacking fresh ideas or new faces, insisting that its leading figures are long-time political actors with no novel solutions for Nigerians.
He stated this Masari while speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the APC National Convention at Eagle Square in Abuja.
The former governor questioned the credibility of the ADC’s claim to represent a new political alternative, arguing that most of its prominent members have held public office for years.
“Who was not in government? Tell me. Some for 20 years, some for 15 years, eight years. Is there anybody new?” Masari said.
“You have not shown me anybody new in this business that we don’t know, that we have not participated with, or that we have not contested elections against.”
“In terms of popularity, APC is number one, whatever the permutations,” he said.
He added that the party is fully prepared for the 2027 elections and is not intimidated by emerging opposition coalitions.
“As a party, we are not afraid. We are very ready,” Masari declared.
Masari also echoed recent comments by President Tinubu, urging Nigerians to hold all levels of government accountable, not just the presidency.
“The problem in Nigeria is that we don’t situate problems where they belong,” he said.
“Certain problems are local and belong to the local government; others are federal in nature, but you lump them all on the head of the President.”
The former Katsina State governor also defended the economic reforms introduced by the Tinubu-led administration, particularly the removal of fuel subsidies.
According to him, the policy has corrected long-standing distortions in the oil sector and increased revenue available to all tiers of government.
Even Americans have subsidies on energy. We have removed all the distortions in the oil market, and people are getting value for their money,” he said.
“More money is now coming to the state, local, and federal governments for development. Previously, that money was going into the hands of a few individuals.”