The All Progressives Congress has begun tightening its grip ahead of the 2027 general election, with its zonal congresses across the six geopolitical zones sending one clear message — the party wants to head into the next election cycle united, organised, and firmly behind President Bola Tinubu.
Across the country, the congresses were largely peaceful and consensus-driven, with many zonal leaders re-elected and party stakeholders using the gatherings to show loyalty, test their strength, and quietly begin early political mobilisation. But perhaps the loudest political signal came from the North-Central, where party leaders openly adopted Tinubu as their sole candidate for the 2027 presidential race.
At the congress in Nasarawa State, the endorsement was led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and backed by Governor Abdullahi Sule. The decision was embraced by governors, ministers, and other APC heavyweights from the zone, showing that the region is already positioning itself as one of Tinubu’s strongest pillars ahead of 2027. Akume described the North-Central as the “glue” of Nigeria and expressed confidence that the zone could produce one of the highest vote counts when the time comes.
Even with that confidence, he warned party members not to relax. His message was simple: political victory is never automatic. He urged leaders and loyalists to work as if the party still had everything to prove, stressing that only serious grassroots effort would guarantee a massive and unquestionable win. He also pointed to what he described as improving economic indicators, including Nigeria’s foreign reserves, as signs the administration’s policies are beginning to take shape.
In the South-West, the tone was equally strategic. At the zonal congress held in Lagos, Dr. Isaacs Kekemeke was re-elected as zonal chairman through consensus, alongside other executives. The event drew thousands of delegates and served as another show of unity from one of the APC’s most politically important regions. Kekemeke said the zone must do better than it did in the last four years and made it clear that delivering overwhelming support for Tinubu in 2027 is now a central mission.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu also described the South-West congress as peaceful, credible, and proof that the region remains solidly united. He urged the newly elected executives to think ahead, strengthen party structures, and stay focused on keeping the South-West as a dominant political force. In his view, the region is not just expected to support Tinubu — it is expected to lead from the front.
In the South-East, the APC also presented a picture of calm and internal agreement. At the congress in Enugu State, Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu was re-elected as National Vice Chairman, again through consensus. Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu said the process reflected the collective will of party members, while leaders in the zone framed the outcome as proof that the APC is becoming more rooted in the South-East than before.
What stood out even more was the message of political expansion. Party voices in the region argued that the APC is no longer just trying to survive in the South-East but is now trying to establish stronger and more permanent influence. The re-election of zonal officers was presented not just as internal housekeeping, but as part of a broader effort to deepen party structure before the national convention and eventually the 2027 election.
The South-South also followed the same pattern. In Asaba, Chief Victor Giadom was re-elected alongside other zonal officials through consensus. The congress became another opportunity for APC leaders in the region to push the idea that the South-South should no longer be seen as politically distant from the ruling party. Instead, the ambition now is to turn the region into one of the APC’s biggest vote banks.
That message was strongly reinforced by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who challenged party members to make the South-South the highest vote-delivering region for the APC in 2027. It was a bold political statement, especially for a zone that has historically had a more complicated relationship with the party. But APC leaders there now appear determined to rewrite that story by building stronger internal cohesion and closer alignment with the federal centre.
The North-East also chose consensus at its congress in Gombe State, where party leaders described the process as part of a constitutional and democratic effort to preserve unity and avoid unnecessary internal division. Mai Mala Buni said the congress reflected the APC’s commitment to structure, order, and continuity, while also showing how seriously the region takes its role within the party.
Taken together, the APC’s zonal congresses were more than routine internal party exercises. They were early political rehearsals for 2027. Behind the speeches, endorsements, and consensus arrangements was a much bigger message: the party is already moving from governance mode into election mode. And from what played out across the zones, Tinubu’s camp is clearly trying to ensure that when the battle for 2027 fully begins, the APC enters it not as a divided ruling party, but as one already lining up behind a single flagbearer.