APC Convention: Yilwatda, Basiru re-elected to top party posts of chairman and secretary

Professor Nentawe Yilwatda and Ajibola Basiru have been re-elected as national chairman and national secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, respectively, at the party's 8th national convention in Abuja on Friday.

The convention also saw the return of all members of the National Working Committee, NWC, through consensus and affirmative voice vote, with the newly elected members sworn-in to steer the party's affairs for the next four years.

Some of the NWC members include Deputy National Chairman North, Ali Dalori, Deputy National Chairman South, Emma Eneukwu, National Secretary, Surajudeen Basiru, National Financial Secretary, Alhaji Bashir Gumel, and National Legal Adviser, Murtala Kankia.

In his acceptance speech, Yilwatda stated that the NWC is ready to lead and work to rebuild Nigeria under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, with a mission to build a stronger, transparent, inclusive, and more disciplined party.

Yilwatda outlined the party's plans, saying "We will deepen internal democracy, strengthen our structures, expand our reach, and empower our youth because they are not just the future, but a huge and important part of our today."

Activities in Abuja were brought to a standstill as the APC held its National Convention, with President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and 31 governors of the party in attendance at the Eagle Square.

Other notable attendees included Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, APC governors, ministers, lawmakers, and delegates, with the convention officially beginning at around 8:15pm.

However, the event was marred by heavy security presence, with journalists initially barred and threatened by overzealous security agents, despite possessing valid tags, and forced to trek considerable distances to access the venue.

Several reporters were turned back at various checkpoints, with some security personnel threatening to open fire on journalists who attempted to defy orders, leaving many accredited media practitioners stranded.

The situation took a desperate turn as many journalists who eventually gained entrance sought temporary shelter at the Nasarawa State Pavilion, only to be met with verbal hostility from delegates who chased them away.

The convention, which was largely organized under a consensus arrangement, saw a long list of aspirants appear for screening to fill various positions within the National Working Committee, NWC.

Leading the list of cleared aspirants for the consensus positions is Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda from Plateau State, who is the incumbent National Chairman, alongside Hon. Abubakar Dalori from Borno for Deputy National Chairman, North, and Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru from Osun.

Other key figures appearing for the consensus roles include Professor Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana for Deputy National Secretary, Mu’azu Bawa Rijau for National Vice Chairman, North Central, and Barrister Muritala Aliyu Kankia as the National Legal Adviser.

The list also features Felix Morka for National Publicity Secretary and Dayo Israel for the National Youth Leader position, with the contested Deputy National Chairman, South position, seeing Chief Emma Eneukwu, the incumbent, competing with Hon. Ben Nwoye.

Addressing the party delegates, President Bola Tinubu emphasized the importance of unity among party members and commended Governors AbdulRazaq AbdulRahman of Kwara, Hope Uzodimma of Imo, and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun for their roles in the convention's success.

Former Governor of Katsina state, Aminu Bello Masari, who Chaired the Central Coordinating Committee for the convention, told the 8,453 delegates that their presence was a "solemn assembly" designed to steer the destiny of the nation.

Masari urged delegates to recognize the weight of their roles in selecting the next crop of party leaders, saying "Delegates, the responsibility you carry today is immense, you are not here merely to cast a vote, you are here to shape history."

Masari argued that the current hardships facing many Nigerians, including insecurity and economic pressures, are "opportunities to prove our resilience" and build a Nigeria that is fairer and more prosperous.

Representing the Federal Executive Council, FEC, the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, provided a technical defence of the administration's "bold steps" to rectify years of economic neglect, noting that the president inherited a system plagued by a lack of local refining and distorted foreign exchange markets.

Edun reported a significant shift in macroeconomic indicators, revealing that economic growth has doubled from 2% prior to this administration to the current 4% per annum, and highlighted the party's expanding influence, with the number of APC governors growing to 31 from approximately 21 just over two years ago.

Edun also announced that the administration has recently approved fresh support for farmers and small-scale industries through the Bank of Industry, and a major partnership with the World Bank is underway to revitalize the power sector by attracting private sector investment.