APC CONVENTION: THE MAKING OF A CONSENSUS CANDIDATE
• It’s Tinubu All the Way
By Our Political Desk
With the All Progressives Congress now set to hold its national convention on Saturday, Abuja is already swelling with crowds of party delegates.
Approximately, 8,000 delegates are taking part in the convention – the first to be conducted courtesy of the provisions of the Electoral Act as amended.
From the signals that are being received, the ruling party appears poised to use the gathering not as a battleground for competing ambitions among party loyalists, but also as a stage-managed affirmation of its leadership and proof of its readiness for the 2027 presidential race.
At the centre of the enthusiasm, the buzz and the energy that is building on the streets of Abuja and across the country is President Bola Tinubu. Tinubu is seeking a second tenure in office.
A Convention Without Contest?
Traditionally, party conventions are arenas of competition—platforms where ambition meets scrutiny. This time, however, the tone suggests something different: a convergence designed to affirm rather than interrogate.
Leading figures within the APC have signalled a preference for consensus. Our Correspondents report that the language of “adoption” and “endorsement” has steadily replaced that of “contest” and “primary.”
If this trajectory holds, they say, the convention may ultimately serve to validate a predetermined outcome.
Optics, Power, and Presence
The swelling crowds in Abuja are not merely incidental. They are part of a broader political message—one that speaks to strength, reach, and organisational capacity.
Delegates, governors, legislators, and grassroots mobilisers have converged ahead of the March 28 gathering, each playing a role in projecting an image of unity.
Such optics matter. In a political environment where perception often shapes reality, the ability to assemble numbers—and to be seen doing so—becomes a form of power in itself.
Delegates would be looking up to speakers at the convention who are expected to charge up the atmosphere. The itinerary indicates some of the speeches are likely to be delivered Friday which is today.
Most on the convention floor would be waiting for the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu whose acceptance globally is growing by the day to address them.
Why is the convention holding this early? Why is the hosting of the national convention a matter of strategy?
Stay with the Telegraph as we cover aspects of the APC convention and the making of a consensus President.
