The All Progressives Congress (APC) has set the stage for the 2027 general elections following the successful conclusion of its national convention in Abuja, according to party chieftain Chief Sam Onuigbo. The convention, held from March 27 to March 28, capped a series of grassroots congresses that began on February 18 and spanned ward, local government, state, and zonal levels. Onuigbo, a former member of the House of Representatives and senatorial aspirant for Abia Central, credited the smooth process to President Bola Tinubu's leadership, describing it as instrumental in maintaining party unity. He praised the consensus-based election of the new National Working Committee, led by Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda as National Chairman and Sen. Ajibola Basiru as National Secretary, highlighting Yilwatda's ability to accommodate diverse party factions.
Onuigbo described the convention as world-class and said it laid a solid foundation for the party's upcoming primary and general elections. He commended Tinubu for steering the party without internal crises and for bold economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy, the introduction of a students' loan scheme, and the unification of the exchange rate. He argued that these measures had improved fiscal stability, noting that governors no longer seek federal bailouts to pay salaries. "Before the removal of fuel subsidy, every governor was going cap-in-hand looking for bailouts to pay salaries. Is any governor still doing that today? The answer is `No`," Onuigbo said. He acknowledged the right of opposition parties to reorganize and contest in 2027 but expressed confidence in the APC's current momentum and structure.
When Onuigbo says no governor is begging for bailouts post-subsidy removal, he is framing economic pain as political victory—yet many Nigerians still grapple with soaring fuel prices and inflation. The APC's internal cohesion under Tinubu may signal strong electoral machinery, but equating administrative stability with public approval ignores the daily realities of voters. A party celebrating its own process over tangible outcomes risks becoming detached from the people it seeks to lead.
