Thousands of delegates from the All Progressives Congress (APC) have converged on Eagle Square for the party's 8th National Convention, which officially commenced Friday, March 27, 2026. The two-day event aims to elect a new National Working Committee (NWC) to steer the ruling party toward the 2027 general elections.
Heightened security measures have transformed the city centre, with a massive deployment of personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Major access routes to the venue remain barricaded, forcing many residents of the Federal Capital Territory to navigate the area on foot.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is leading the proceedings alongside 31 state governors and high-ranking federal officials. Party leadership has confirmed the adoption of a consensus model for the selection of national officers, a strategy intended to minimise internal friction and project a unified front.
Addressing the media on the eve of the gathering, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, emphasised the importance of collective discipline. "A lot of sacrifice is expected from all, in line with the party's vision for a united and disciplined approach to communicating to Nigerians," Idris stated during a press briefing in Abuja.
The convention follows a rigorous vetting process managed by the Screening and Appeal Committee. Chaired by Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi, the panel recently cleared the incumbent National Chairman and approximately 29 other aspirants after verifying their eligibility and adherence to the party’s constitutional standards.
Logistical preparations, including the setup of state-specific polling pavilions, were finalised early Friday under the supervision of the Convention Venue Committee. Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, who chairs the committee, conducted a final inspection of the square, which is currently adorned in the APC’s signature red, green, white, and blue colours.