Restoration of harmony and cohesion in five state chapters ahead of the 2027 elections has taken centre stage in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The National Working Committee (NWC) has sent delegations to the troubled chapters to resolve the disputes arising from governorship, National Assembly and House of Assembly primaries.

The states are Benue, Oyo, Osun, Niger and Kwara, where the party has been hit by litigations, defections and threats of defections by aggrieved chieftains.

During its retreat at the weekend in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, the national leadership did a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis of the party across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as part of its preparations for the 2027 general election.

National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, said the retreat brought together for the first time the members of the NWC and the National Executive Committee (NEC).

He said the two organs reasoned that reconciliation of aggrieved members is a major step in the party’s preparations for the polls.

In Oyo State, supporters of former Power Minister, Adebayo Adelabu, have not teamed up with the governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, after the shadow poll.

In Kwara, a crisis erupted between Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and a former governorship aspirant, Senator Saliu Mustapha, over the emergence of House of Assembly Speaker Saliu Yakubu Danladi as candidate.

Following the collapse of his governorship and senatorial ambitions in the APC, Mustapha defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where he picked the senatorial ticket for Kwara Central.

Some other members of the APC who believed they were not carried along in the choice of governorship candidate have also not reconciled with the governor.

The situation brought bad blood between Governor AbdulRazaq and PDP National Leader Nyesom Wike.

The Benue chapter is also polarised by the crisis of confidence between Governor Hyacinth Alia and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, over the outcome of primaries.

Although concerted efforts have been made to bring the two camps together, both sides have refused to close ranks.

In Osun, APC went to the August governorship poll as a divided party, and became more divided after its defeat by Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord.

In Niger, the outcome of the primaries generated bitterness.

Aggrieved members are threatening to defect should the national leadership fail to intervene.

Basiru said the party noted the unfinished business of reconciliation, adding that it cannot be taken with levity.

He said: “In the NWC, winning elections is our work. There were robust discussions on how to strengthen the party where we are weak and consolidate where we are strong.

“We also accord priority to reconciliation. We have been to Oyo and Niger. We have identified Benue, Kwara and Osun. NWC has resolved to send representations. We have also made recommendations to the president.”

However, the National Secretary said although APC is battling with 153 litigations from across the country, the number is lower than those of previous electioneering.

Crucial decisions taken at the retreat include the choice of Oladiran Iyantan, a chieftain from Ondo State, as National Vice Chairman (Southwest), as a replacement for Dr Isaacs Kekemeke, who is now senatorial candidate for Ondo South, and modalities for the choice of party agents.

Basiru said the party resolved that the list of party agents for the 176,846 polling units nationwide should be ready by next month.

He said the agents would be carefully selected in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

On campaigns, Basiru said: “State support groups must relate their activities to the state chapters.”

Yilwatda receives ADC defectors from Plateau, Zamfara

A gale of defections has hit the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Jigawa, Plateau, Taraba and Zamfara states.

Many House of Assembly candidates defected to the APC, saying that they were driven by the passion for national development.

The defectors in Zamfara, led by Princess Aslam Aliyu, were at the national secretariat of the APC in Abuja to declare support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda.

They were received by the national chairman, Prof. Netanwe Yilwatda, who thanked them for making the sacrifice.

Speaking on their behalf, Mohammed Hassan explained that their decision to forfeit their political ambitions was driven by a commitment to national development and genuine service to the Nigerian people.

He said: “We are not here merely to change the political platform, but to begin a new chapter of service and a great contribution to our people by supporting Baba Tinubu to a Renewed Agenda 2027.

“We respectfully ask the National Chairmanship and the entire leadership to receive us as brothers and partners, to allow us to contribute and support us as we take this new message back to our people.

“Our commitment remains clear: to support the party, mobilise our people, promote development, and render service to Nigeria with sincerity and dedication.”

Yilwatda commended the young politicians for sacrificing their personal political aspirations for the broader national interest.

He described their defections as a significant boost to the party’s progressive vision for 2027 and beyond.

Yilwatda said: “We receive you especially because of the significance of your coming as candidates who voluntarily left the contest and withdrew from your ambition; abandoned your ambition for the overall interest of the nation.

“That will tell the world that these are young Nigerians who had personal ambitions, but forfeited them for the overall interest of the nation. Thank you for that big sacrifice you’ve made for this country.”

Yilwatda cautioned the defectors against false rhetoric, as he reeled out key projects executed in the region under the current administration.

These include major highway networks spanning over 1,000 kilometres from Abuja to Kano and Kano to Maiduguri, as well as critical road corridors across Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Niger, Kwara, Benue, and Plateau states.

The national chairman criticised opposition leaders pushing for the reversal of fuel subsidy removal.

He said federal initiatives, including compressed natural gas (CNG) adoption, fertiliser and gas distribution, civil service salary support, and the student loan scheme directly benefit northern citizens and vulnerable Nigerians.

Hassan added: “Most of the beneficiaries of the student loan are from the North. We have more of them in this part of the country. Should we stop it? And most of our people who can’t afford school fees go back as wheelbarrow pushers in the villages?

“They reach their dark end and do anything possible to ensure that they deceive vulnerable and gullible people.”

Yilwatda urged the new members to immediately register at their respective wards and build political strength from the grassroots up.

He added: “Mr. President has shown that he is a pan-Nigerian leader who accommodates everybody, and all of you will be accommodated.

“Follow the campaign train in your own ward, in your own polling unit, because all elections are won at the polling units.”

“On behalf of the National Working Committee, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and millions of APC supporters nationwide, I welcome you to this family.” (The Nation)