Politics
APC National Convention: Power brokers push for North-central, Sheriff, Yari’s ambitions under threat
The battle for the control of the structure of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is gathering momentum ahead of the party’s 26th February convention.
While about 10 candidates are jostling for the chairmanship position, the ticket appears to be down to candidates from the Northcentral.
DAILY POST gathered that governors of the ruling party are united against the candidacy of Alimodu Sheriff, the former Chairman of the PDP. To knock him out, there appears to be consensus to allow the North Central to clinch the ticket.
APC governors in complete take over
The takeover of the party by the governors is appearing to be crystal clear, judging by the swearing-in of the state executive last week; governors’ factions in about 13 states won the battle.
In Zamfara State, governor Bello Metawalle defeated both Abdulaziz Yari and Kabir Marafa factions, while the same thing happened in Kwara, Osun, Cross River and others.
With the States taken over, the governors have set their sights on the national chairmanship, after an attempt to extend the tenure of Mai Mala Buni-led caretaker committee failed.
In the last 18 months reign of Buni, the governors held sway. According to insiders within the party, the governors want someone nominated from their ranks.
ACN, ANPP, CPC rotation
The current APC was a merger of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), a faction of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and N-PDP members.
Since the formation of the party, ACN has produced Bisi Akande and Adams Oshiomhole, while Buni was also a member of the ACN bloc. On the other hand, Oyegun belongs to the ANPP faction. Both CPC and APGA are yet to occupy the seat.
There are concerted efforts to ensure that the CPC faction clinches that top position. This arrangement will be cancelling out several candidates.
Geopolitical spread of candidates
The Northcentral has the highest number of candidates in the contest. Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa, Saliu Mustapha of Kwara, Etsu Mohammed and Sen Sani Musa of Niger State and George Akume of Benue State.
Northeast has Isa Yuguda, Sunny Moniedafe and Sheriff, while the Northwest has Shinkafi and AbdulAziz Yari.
Governors with Presidential and Vice Presidential ambitions will be wary of having the ticket zoned to their geopolitical zone. DAILY POST gathered that Governor Yahaya Bello is not disposed to the ticket zoned to the north-central.
Alimodu Sheriff
Sheriff, a former acting Chairman of the PDP, is on the top list of candidates the governors have decided to oppose by all means necessary. His alleged past link to the creation of the dreaded Boko haram group and stint as the acting Chairman of PDP makes his candidacy very tricky.
A former member of the House of Representatives, who spoke with DAILY POST on the condition of anonymity, said the opposition to Sheriff is not a secret.
“Even from his billboard ‘A man the job needs’, it is clear that he is not a man to be kept on the leash. These governors don’t want another Oshiomhole and if you check the history of Sheriff, especially, his brief stint as PDP caretaker chairman, the governors don’t want him,” he said.
In addition, Sheriff, a former member of the ANPP bloc, is not beholden to any governor, including his State governor, Babangana Zulum. DAILY POST learnt that due to the resources available to Sheriff, the governors are not taking chances.
Tanko Almakura
The former governor of Nasarawa State and serving Senator in the 9th National Assembly is one of the leading candidates in the race. Being a former governor will count in terms of experience.
Almakura also has the support of his State governor, Abdulahi Sule. The National Assembly may also favour the idea of one of their own at the helm of affairs.
Since the rejection of the mandatory direct primaries option in the electoral bill, the lawmakers are seeking to get a foothold on the party. Last week, the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila hosted some former lawmakers of the APC and it was gathered that a sizable package was given out to them.
The ex-lawmakers, who are delegates by virtue of the APC Constitution, held a meeting in Abuja at the Ibeto Hotel. They have created a bloc and are willing to be persuaded by the factions in the party.
Sani Musa
Mr Musa, who sponsored the controversial ‘Protection from Internet Falsehoods and Manipulation and Other Related Matters Bill, 2019’, aka social media bill is gaining momentum in the race.
Musa’s profile shot up the roof when Tinubu said his efforts have been noticed by the leaders and “he will be rewarded.”
However, as a first timer in the Senate and not being a former governor could either be an advantage or a disadvantage for the man fondly called 313. If backed by his governor, Abubakar Bello, the APC governors’ forum may not be intimidated by him, and lawmakers may be at ease.
He is not a member of the old blocs; in fact, he jostled for the PDP governorship ticket in the past, before settling down for APC senatorial seat in 2019.
Saliu Mustapha
Mr Mustapha, a former deputy national Chairman of the CPC is one of the dark horses in this race. He is banking on his CPC and North Central connection to appeal to power brokers in his party.
However, people in his camp are not sure if his State governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrasak is fully backing him.
His State, like most other APC States, is highly balkanized. The governor has been fighting to gain total control of the party against Lai Mohammed and Gbemisola Saraki since the victory of the movement that displaced Bukola Saraki, the ex-Senate President.
If Mustapha can get the nod of the governor, though the governor is relatively unknown at the national level, his lack of strong political profile could assuage the governors to support him.
George Akume
The Minister for Special Duties and former Governor of Benue State is also strongly in the race.
Being a current minister, a former governor and from North Central, Akume could work the machinery to his side.
The fact that Akume is from the same State as Iyorcha Ayu, the PDP Chairman, could be a plus and a minus for Akume.
His credential as former Minority leader could count. But he is a member of the ACN bloc.
Abdulaziz Yari
The former Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Yari, currently is not in control of his State, Zamfara, having lost out to Governor Matewalle in the power struggle.
Yari, a former member of the House of Representatives, has an uphill battle ahead of him. Being from the North West is a minus and fighting with his governor puts him at a disadvantage.
Unless backed by power brokers within the party, who are willing to challenge the foothold of the governors, he may not succeed. Yari’s credentials as ex-NGF Chairman is surely a plus for him.
Abdulahi Shinkafi
The former APGA National Secretary and serial governorship candidate in Zamfara State is also in the race.
Just like Yari, his zone puts him at a disadvantage and the fact that he only decamped from APGA to APC in 2021 also serves as a minus.
However, his knowledge of party administration could be an advantage and Matewella’s backing to check Yari could mean something at the Eagle Square.
Other candidates
Isa Yuguda from Bauchi State, Etsu Muhammed of Niger State and Sunny Moniedafe of Adamawa State are equally in the race.
Prominent activist and African Democratic Congress (ADC) member Aisha Yesufu has issued a public apology to governance advocate Yemi Adamolekun following a controversy over her inclusion in the party’s Wise Men and Women Policy and Manifesto Committee.
The issue emerged on Wednesday after Adamolekun, former executive director of Enough is Enough Nigeria, expressed surprise on social media at seeing her name listed among members of the ADC committee.
Tagging Yesufu and ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi, Adamolekun questioned the party’s process in a blunt post on X.
“ADC! ADC! ADC! How many times did I call you? This is not how to build credibility o! Please show me evidence of when I joined your party! Na wa….” she wrote.
Responding the same day, Abdullahi said the committee was designed to be expert-driven rather than strictly partisan.
“It is important to point out that not everyone on the ADC Policy and Manifesto Committee is a member of the ADC. Many are not even politicians,” he said.
He added, “This is because the ADC believes that the task of developing workable public policies for the benefit of all Nigerians should not be left to politicians alone.”
Abdullahi maintained that the party had followed due process.
He said the ADC had undergone a “vetting process” and “took all necessary measures to ensure that everyone recommended to serve on this important committee was duly notified and had given their consent.”
Despite the disagreement, he expressed hope that Adamolekun would still participate, citing her “vast experience – even though she is not a member of our party.”
However, reacting on Friday, Yesufu, a member of the party’s Revalidation, Mobilisation and Registration Committee, acknowledged the error and apologised publicly.
She wrote, “This is inexcusable, and on behalf of my party, accept my apologies for this mix-up. We do not take you and your need to have a better Nigeria for granted.”
Yesufu admitted the process was flawed.
“Like you rightly pointed out, you ought to have been informed and your consent gotten before your name is published.
“This is well noted, and going forward we will continue to ensure due diligence,” she said.
She added, “Thank you for calling our attention to this. We can only get better when we get such feedback and improve accordingly.
“The work to rebuilding Nigeria is enormous, and in our eagerness to start off, we must never forget due process and diligence.”
Yesufu also extended an apology to others affected by the publication.
“For anyone that was also not contacted and consent gotten before publication, kindly accept my apologies for the mix-up,” she said.
Abba Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has attributed his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid to what he described as the administration’s innovative and business-friendly economic policies.
He said President Tinubu’s economic initiatives are more favourable to businesses than those of previous administrations, adding that the reforms have reshaped his political alignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Abba made the remarks during a solidarity visit to the leadership of the City Boy Movement (CBM) in Abuja on Monday evening, where he led members of the Haske Atiku Organisation, now rebranded as the Haske Tinubu Organisation.
He recalled that he formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on January 15, collecting his membership card at Gwadabwa Ward in Yola North Local Government Area of Adamawa State, where he publicly pledged support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
According to him, his decision to back the president was driven by admiration for the economic policies introduced since 2023, which he believes are positioning the country for stronger private-sector growth and investment.
According to him, “This administration has introduced policies that have every Nigerian in mind. If anyone says this government is not doing well, I will tell them they are lying,” he said. “I believe that if given another term, the government will do even more because it is focused.”
He explained that his long-standing experience in business has given him a clear perspective on economic governance in Nigeria.
“Since the return of democratic rule in 1999, I have been in business, and I am still in business today. The economic policies of Mr. President are favourable—not just to businesses, but to Nigerians in general, who are already benefiting from these reforms,” he stated.
He also explained that his decision to join the APC and align with the City Boy Movement was motivated by his passion for the Tinubu-led administration and his desire to serve.
“My joining the APC and the City Boy Movement is based on my belief in this administration. I also intend to use this platform to serve the people of Adamawa at the National Assembly level. Mr. President has made youth inclusion in politics a reality,” Abubakar added.
The Director General of the City Boy Movement, Mr. Oluwatosin Shoga reaffirmed President Tinubu’s commitment to youth participation in governance and leadership.
He noted that one of CBM’s core strategic mandates is to ensure that young Nigerians are deliberately positioned for leadership roles while encouraging greater youth involvement in the political process.
Abba’s delegation was received by the Director General of CBM, Mr. Shoga, and the National Coordinator, Mr. Favour Abayomi.
Popular Ibadan-based broadcaster and founder of Agidigbo 88.7 FM, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat has officially declared his intention to run for the 2027 Oyo State governorship under the Accord Party.
In a public declaration, Hamzat stated, “I am publicly declaring today that in 2027.
“I will not campaign for anyone or mobilise crowds for anyone.
“I will contest in the gubernatorial election under the Accord Party.”
The announcement signals Hamzat’s full commitment to his own political ambitions, stepping away from backing other candidates as he positions himself for the Oyo State governorship race.
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