APC Retains National Chairman, Executive Officers Through Consensus Vote at Close of Convention

The All Progressives Congress (APC) wrapped up its eighth national convention in Abuja in the early hours of Saturday, returning Prof. Nentawe Goshwe as National Chairman and Senator Ajibola Basiru as National Secretary, alongside 10 other members of the National Working Committee, all via re-election.

At the convention, the party also conducted zonal congresses to elect leadership for the six geopolitical zones.

The officers were elected unopposed, except for the Deputy National Chairman (South) where Dr. Ben Nwoye from Enugu State replaced Chief Emma Eneukwu. A legal professional, Nwoye was the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the party in his home state before the convention.

The other officers elected were:

• Deputy National Chairman (North): Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori
• National Treasurer: Mr. Uguru Mathew Ofoke
• National Financial Secretary: Alhaji Bashir Usman Gumel
• National Legal Adviser: Prof. Abdulkarim Abubakar Kan
• National Organising Secretary: Suleiman M. Argungu
• National Publicity Secretary: Barrister Felix Morka
• National Women Leader: Dr. Mary Alile Idele
• National Youth Leader: Dayo Abdullah Israel
• National Welfare Secretary: Hon. Donatus Nwanap

Zonal executives elected by the convention were:

• South West Zonal Chairman: Dr. Isaac Kekemeke
• North East Zonal Vice Chairman: Idris Shuaibu
• North East Zonal Secretary: Baba Ali
• North East Women Leader: Lumbi Abubakar
• North East Youth Leader: Joseph Mondale

Yelwata said that his re-election is a call to serve, expressing his gratitude to the party for the chance.

‘We are ready to serve, ready to lead, and we are ready to build the party, together with the nation, with you’, he said in his acceptance speech.

He promised that the NWC will not ‘fail, falter’ in their assignment.

The convention, held at Eagle Square in Abuja, was attended by many dignitaries, including President Bola Tinubu; his vice, Kashim Shettima; leaders and members of the National Assembly; and APC governors and other party stakeholders.

President Tinubu told the over 8,000 delegates that the country is on the right track.

He said that though the path was rough, the reforms initiated by his administration were steps needed to realign Nigeria’s road to progress.

He said: ‘We knew rebuilding Nigeria would require courage, patience, and difficult decisions. But we also knew that no nation rises by hiding from the truth.

‘We are on the right track. Investor confidence has greatly improved.

‘Our oil and gas sector has once more become attractive to foreign investment following our reforms. Our Eurobond issuance was oversubscribed by 400%, and Nigeria has exited the financial ‘grey list’, marking a return to global financial credibility’.

He assured that, despite the recurrent power outages, better days are ahead, especially with policies like the Grid Asset Management Company.

‘I assure you, many of you lamenting the problem of electricity and power; we are paying attention to that. Electricity will become better, and we assure you there will be opportunities and progress in our industrialisation’, he said.

President Tinubu hailed the contributions of youths to the country and described them as not ‘only the future of Nigeria; you are our hope for a more glorious and assured future’.