Nigeria's APC Consolidates Grassroots Structures as 2027 Election Preparations Intensify
The All Progressives Congress has swept recent bye-elections and completed local government congresses across multiple states, signaling the beginning of organizational groundwork for the 2027 general elections.
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Nigeria's ruling All Progressives Congress has commenced intensive preparations for the 2027 general elections, securing victories in multiple bye-elections and completing party congresses across several states as political parties begin positioning themselves for the next electoral cycle.
The APC demonstrated its electoral strength over the weekend, winning chairmanship and state assembly contests in the Federal Capital Territory and Kano State. The Independent National Electoral Commission declared Daniel Nuhu as winner of the Kwali Area Council chairmanship election in Abuja, according to results announced at the final collation centre Sunday morning. In Kano, the party swept both the Ungogo and Kano Municipal State House of Assembly bye-elections held on Saturday, consolidating its legislative presence in Nigeria's second-most populous state.
Party Congresses Signal Organizational Renewal
Beyond electoral contests, the APC has focused on strengthening its internal structures through ward and local government congresses, which party officials describe as critical to building momentum for 2027. In Oyo State, the party reported what it termed "largely peaceful" ward and local government area congresses, defying what The Nation Newspaper characterized as skeptics' expectations. The successful completion of these organizational exercises represents a departure from previous cycles marked by factional disputes and violence during party congresses.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio underscored the strategic importance of grassroots organization during the emergence of local council officers in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Speaking after officers were selected through consensus, Akpabio predicted "a landslide victory" for President Bola Tinubu and Governor Umo Eno in the area during the 2027 elections, according to Vanguard News. The emphasis on consensus-building rather than contested elections at the local level suggests the party leadership's preference for unity ahead of the general elections.
Governors Emphasize Grassroots Mobilization
State governors have taken direct roles in charging newly elected party officials with responsibilities extending beyond routine administration. Sokoto Governor Ahmed Aliyu urged newly elected local government executives to "conduct themselves with integrity and intensify grassroots mobilisation" during a monitoring tour of APC congresses in Bodinga Local Government Area, The Whistler reported. The governor's directive highlights the dual mandate facing local party structures: maintaining ethical standards while building electoral machinery for the upcoming contest.
The simultaneous focus on internal organization and electoral victories reflects lessons learned from previous election cycles, where weak party structures at the local level undermined broader campaign efforts. By conducting congresses more than a year before the 2027 elections, the APC appears to be allowing sufficient time for newly constituted executive committees to establish themselves and resolve any lingering disputes before the campaign season intensifies.
Early Positioning for 2027 Contest
The timing of these organizational activities carries strategic significance. With the 2027 general elections still more than a year away, early party congresses provide the APC with extended periods to test new leadership, address internal conflicts, and build voter databases at the grassroots level. This approach contrasts with the rushed congresses that characterized preparations for previous elections, which often left insufficient time for dispute resolution and organizational consolidation.
Opposition parties have yet to match the APC's organizational tempo, though the Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party are expected to conduct their own congresses in coming months. The APC's early start potentially provides competitive advantages in candidate selection, campaign financing, and voter mobilization infrastructure. However, the true test of these organizational efforts will come as Nigeria's economic challenges and security concerns continue to shape voter sentiment ahead of the polls.
The successful completion of congresses in states like Oyo, Sokoto, and Akwa Ibom, combined with bye-election victories in the FCT and Kano, suggests the ruling party is methodically building the foundation for its 2027 campaign. Whether this organizational advantage translates into electoral success will depend on the party's ability to address governance concerns while maintaining the unity currently on display at the grassroots level.