Yilwatda, Basiru return APC national chairman, secretary

Nentawe Yilwatda and Ajibola Basiru have been returned as national chairman and national secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), respectively.

Yilwatda and Basiru were elected on Friday at the fourth elective national convention of the APC held at Eagle Square, Abuja.

The party’s convention election committee announced their election as part of several officials returned via consensus.

Last week, the ruling party said it would retain the existing zoning arrangement for national working committee (NWC) positions during its national convention.

In a statement, Felix Morka, national publicity secretary of the APC, said the arrangement is contained in the party’s published schedule of nationwide congresses, national convention, and related activities for 2026.

He said the zoning formula for NWC positions across states within the geopolitical zones remains valid for the convention.

Morka advised aspirants seeking national offices in the party to adhere strictly to the zoning arrangement.

In furtherance of this decision, both Yilwatda and Basiru were returned unopposed for the national chairman and secretary positions, respectively.

The convention, themed “Unity in progres: Consolidating the renewed hope agenda,” was attended by President Bola Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, among other party chieftains.

The convention was organised by a planning committee led by Aminu Masari, former governor of Katsina, and Anyim Pius Anyim, former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF).

According to Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, about 8,453 delegates are participating in the convention.