Under his leadership, the party has recorded notable stability, progress in internal party reconciliation, party administration and membership drive, and strategic repositioning for future electoral success.”
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – Ahead of the March 28 National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a group of party stakeholders has endorsed the National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, for a second term, while calling on President Bola Tinubu and the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to retain the existing zoning arrangement.
The endorsement was announced on Thursday in Abuja by the APC Concerned Stakeholders Forum during a press conference, where the group said continuity in leadership and zoning was critical to internal cohesion and electoral success.
Yilwatda, from Plateau State in the North Central zone, emerged as APC National Chairman at the party’s NEC meeting on July 24, 2025. His emergence was widely seen as a return of the position to the North Central after it was held by Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje of the North West between August 3, 2023 and June 27, 2025.
Speaking at the briefing, the convener of the forum, Dr. Dominic Alancha, said the party had enjoyed relative stability since Yilwatda assumed office, citing improvements in internal reconciliation, administration, membership drive and strategic planning ahead of future elections.
“In the spirit of continuity, the Forum hereby endorses the current National Chairman of our great party, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, for continuity,” Alancha said. “Under his leadership, the party has recorded notable stability, progress in internal party reconciliation, party administration and membership drive, and strategic repositioning for future electoral success.”
The group also urged the APC leadership to resist calls to alter the zoning formula, describing it as a stabilising mechanism that promotes fairness, inclusiveness and national balance within the party.
“As our party prepares for its 2026 National Convention, we consider it patriotic and timely to clearly state our collective position on key issues that will foster stability, unity and seamless electoral success for the APC,” Alancha said.
“The Concerned APC Stakeholders Forum unequivocally advocates the retention of the current zoning formula as adopted and practiced by our party. Zoning has remained a stabilising mechanism that promotes inclusiveness, fairness, national balance and a sense of belonging among the diverse components of our party and the federation.”
He warned that altering the arrangement at a time of heightened political sensitivity could undermine internal harmony. “At a time when national cohesion is of utmost importance, abandoning or altering this formula may generate unnecessary tension and weaken internal harmony,” he added.
The forum therefore called on the NEC, President Tinubu, party elders and other stakeholders “to uphold the existing zoning arrangement in the interest of unity, equity and justice.”
While backing the current structure at the national level, Alancha urged party leaders across the geopolitical zones to consider micro-zoning at state levels to ensure balance and equity.
“On the same breath, we call on the leadership in various geopolitical zones to look into micro-zoning arrangements on the basis of balance and equity in order to strengthen the party at the state level,” he said.
Alancha also used the occasion to declare his intention to contest for the position of Deputy National Publicity Secretary at the convention, saying his ambition was driven by the need to strengthen the party’s communication machinery ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“I wish to use this opportunity to also present and declare my intention to contest for the position of National Deputy Publicity Secretary of our great party, the APC,” he said. “This is in line with our commitment to strengthening party communication, engagement, grassroots mobilisation and image management in line with contemporary public communication architecture.”
He appealed to party leaders and members for support, urging APC stakeholders to place the collective interest of the party above personal ambitions.
“By retaining the zoning formula, ensuring leadership continuity, and supporting capable hands, the APC will emerge stronger, more united and better positioned to continue delivering good governance to Nigerians under the able leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Alancha said.