APC Promises Transparent Congresses, PDP & NNPP Warn Of Looming Turmoil

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has pledged that its forthcoming ward congresses and national convention will be conducted in a transparent and credible manner, assuring members and the general public of its commitment to internal democracy. According to Ireporter Online, the party expressed confidence that the exercises would reinforce unity within its ranks and promote wider grassroots participation.

The APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, speaking in a media interview, stated that preparations were already in top gear and that party leaders and stakeholders were determined to deliver free, fair and peaceful processes. He maintained that the congresses and convention would reflect the progressive ideals of the ruling party, adding that the APC had successfully organised similar exercises in the past without rancour. Ibrahim further asserted that the party’s internal processes would serve as a model for other political platforms, emphasizing that the outcomes would be widely accepted and would ultimately strengthen cohesion rather than create division.

Under its revised timetable, the APC has scheduled its ward congresses for February 18, while the national convention is expected to hold between March 27 and March 28.

However, opposition parties have expressed reservations over the anticipated exercises. The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ini Ememobong, cautioned that the processes could expose underlying tensions within the ruling party. He argued that while the APC had attracted numerous defectors in recent times, many were allegedly motivated by personal interests rather than ideological alignment. According to him, the ward congresses and convention would serve as a true test of the party’s internal stability and could potentially trigger significant challenges.

Ememobong further suggested that dissatisfied members might seek alternative political platforms if the outcomes of the exercises did not favour them, claiming that the APC lacked the cohesive structure required to manage competing ambitions effectively.

Similarly, the National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Oladipo Johnson, warned that managing diverse and competing interests within the APC could prove difficult. He noted that as political parties expand and absorb more members, internal complexities tend to increase. Johnson contended that the allocation of key positions during the congresses and convention may not satisfy all stakeholders, a development he predicted could spark internal disputes within the ruling party.

Despite the concerns raised by opposition figures, the APC insists it is prepared to conduct peaceful, orderly and credible exercises that will further consolidate its standing as Nigeria’s governing party.