The National Secretary of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, has stated the party will emerge strengthened from its upcoming national convention, directly dismissing opposition forecasts of an internal crisis as unfounded.
Speaking to The Punch on Sunday, Basiru asserted that the APC remains united and organized, with no signs of the division or instability predicted by its rivals. He contended that the convention’s outcome would defy opposition expectations of a party collapse.
“We’re organised and united, and as we always tell the evil wishers, there will be no implosion before or after our convention and primaries,” Basiru said. He pledged that the party’s primary elections would be conducted fairly and transparently to ensure accountability, adding, “We will shock the opposition.”
In a pointed remark, Basiru urged opposition parties not to participate in elections if their strategy relies on anticipating an implosion within the APC. “They do not need to wait for the death of a platform for their survival,” he stated.
The APC’s national convention, a critical event for the party’s cohesion and future strategy, is scheduled in the coming months. Basiru’s comments come amid perennial speculation about factional tensions within the APC, which has governed Nigeria since 2015. The party has previously navigated complex internal dynamics while maintaining control of the presidency and a majority in the national assembly.
Analysts note that the convention will test the party’s ability to manage succession politics and grassroots engagement ahead of future electoral cycles. Basiru’s defiant public stance is positioned to counter narratives of fragility and project an image of controlled preparation.
His message reinforces the APC’s official narrative of unity as it approaches a key organizational milestone. The convention’s conduct and any reported friction will be closely watched as indicators of the ruling party’s long-term stability and its capacity to confront a fragmented opposition in Nigeria’s political landscape. The event’s outcome is expected to shape the tactical calculations of other parties as they prepare for the next general elections in 2027.
