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OPINION: APC And The Drum Beats Of Unity

Published

3 weeks ago

March 31, 2026

By Patrick Akhere Ebojele.

When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu addressed thousands of delegates at Eagle Square, Abuja, on Friday, March 27, 2026, during the All Progressives Congress (APC) 4th Elective National Convention, he distilled his message into a single, commanding theme: “Unity in Progress: Consolidating the Renewed Hope Agenda.”

It was more than a slogan—it was a declaration of political intent and a pointed warning to party members tempted to elevate personal ambition above collective purpose.

“Our greatest strength has never been in our size or numbers, but in our unity,” the President said. He cautioned that political parties do not only fail at the ballot box; they falter when ego overrides ideology and when individual ambition displaces collective discipline. His message was unequivocal: the convention must signal to Nigerians and the world that the APC remains strong, united, focused, and future-ready.

Notably, that message had already found a deliberate echo two days earlier—not in Abuja, but in Asaba, Delta State. There, Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, addressed South-South APC leaders at the party’s Zonal Congress, striking the same chord with clarity and conviction.

At the congress, Okpebholo framed the gathering as more than a routine party exercise. It was a strategic platform to entrench unity as a regional imperative ahead of the 2027 elections.

“A region that speaks with one voice cannot be ignored,” the governor told delegates. He argued that a divided South-South would weaken its influence within the APC’s national structure, reduce its bargaining power with the federal government, and ultimately shortchange the people it serves.

He described the peaceful, consensus-driven emergence of a new Zonal Executive Committee as evidence of a maturing party—one that has moved beyond internal divisions and personal rivalries that once threatened its cohesion. In his view, the orderly congress was not just an administrative milestone but proof that the South-South APC now possesses the discipline required for effective governance.

The alignment between Tinubu and Okpebholo is both clear and significant. From different platforms, both leaders advanced the same argument: that the APC was conceived not as a vehicle for individual political advancement, but as a durable instrument for national and regional transformation.

In Abuja, Tinubu reaffirmed the party’s founding vision—to build a Nigeria where governance works, institutions function, opportunities expand, security improves, poverty declines, and citizens can live with dignity and hope.

In Asaba, Okpebholo localized that vision, arguing that coordinated leadership across the South-South would yield tangible benefits—stronger policy coherence, improved investment prospects, and faster infrastructure delivery.

Both leaders also emphasized that unity must translate into results. Without measurable impact, unity becomes an empty promise. The real test, they stressed, lies in how governance improves the daily lives of citizens.

Their convergence was particularly evident on grassroots engagement. Both identified the ward and community levels as the decisive battleground for the APC’s 2027 electoral strategy.

Okpebholo was direct: bridging the gap between party leadership and ordinary citizens remains an urgent priority in the South-South. He stressed that this requires sustained, meaningful engagement—not occasional campaign appearances, but a consistent presence within local communities.

From Eagle Square, Tinubu reinforced this by calling on young Nigerians to take a more active role in shaping the country’s future. He emphasized the need to expand youth participation within the party—not as symbolic inclusion, but as genuine involvement in decision-making.

Taken together, their messages outline a coherent strategy: the APC’s path to 2027 runs through its grassroots base, and its leadership is aligned on that reality.

Tinubu further strengthened his unity message by highlighting key achievements under the Renewed Hope Agenda. He pointed to declining inflation, sustained economic expansion, a surging stock market, and a heavily oversubscribed Eurobond issuance as indicators of economic progress. He also acknowledged ongoing challenges in the power sector, outlining plans for the proposed Grid Asset Management Company (GAMCO) to boost electricity supply.

Okpebholo, in parallel, anchored his argument in practical outcomes. A united South-South, he maintained, would be better positioned to attract investment, leverage federal policies, and accelerate development. In his framing, unity is not an end in itself, but a necessary foundation for progress.

The Asaba congress provided institutional backing to this vision. Its outcomes gave structure to the rhetoric of unity and demonstrated the region’s readiness to align with the broader direction set at the national level.

What emerged from Asaba and Abuja was not coincidence—it was coordination. A President and a governor, operating from different levels of authority, but advancing a shared political strategy.

Tinubu’s directive was clear: the APC must emerge from every internal contest as one cohesive force, guided by discipline and shared purpose. Okpebholo, days earlier, had already shown that the South-South is prepared to lead by example.

The message is unmistakable. From Abuja to the Niger Delta, the call for unity is growing louder—and the APC’s leadership is ensuring it resonates across every ward, community, and constituency.

Dr. Patrick Akhere Ebojele, is the Chief Press Secretary to Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo

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UNIMAID, Federal Polytechnic Matriculate 82 Degree Students

Published

6 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Editor

University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) in affiliation with the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi has matriculated 82 students into the degree programmes across five courses.

Speaking during the matriculation ceremony at the Federal Polytechnic Bauchi on Tuesday, Professor Muhammad Laminu Mele, the Vice chancellor, University of Maiduguri, charged the matriculated students to strictly adhere to the rules and regulations guiding the two institutions to enable them achieve the set objectives.

The VC, who was represented by Professor Muhammad Ahmad Waziri, Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Services, warned that any student or group of students trying to breach the peace of the two institutions would face the full wrath of the law.

The Don further assured that the University and its affiliated institutions would continue to make easy access to higher quality education to the teeming population across the country.

In a remark, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Alhaji Sani Usman, said they were affiliated with the university to pursue academic excellence, describing the affiliation as a huge pillar in the education reforms.

The Rector, who was also represented by Dr. Dalhatu Saidu, the Deputy Rector of the Polymeric, commended the university of Maiduguri for not only improving the UNIMAID’s conducive learning environment but expanding the horizon to different higher institutions of learning across Nigeria.

He therefore advised the newly matriculated students to pursue knowledge, to interact freely with the Polytechnic staff, be vigilant and be a brother’s keeper, adding that this would help to achieve the desired objectives.

The affiliated courses included BSc Mass Communication, BSc Accountancy, BSc Public Administration, BSc Business Administration and BSc Banking and Finance respectively.

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Trouble Looms As Egbesu Group Drags FG To Court Over Resource Control, Others

Published

6 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Editor

Group known as Supreme Egbesu Assembly (SEA) has dragged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to a Federal High Court, Yenagoa, over failure to create additional 24 Local government councils in Bayelsa State as the need for Ijaw to control natural resources in its territory.

The Originating Summons marked: FHC/YNA/CS/63/2026 was filed on Tuesday April 21, 2026 by the plaintiffs including; Felix Tuodolo, Weri Digifa, Ebi Waribigha, Kabowei Akamade, Rosebella Jackson, Thomas Jacklloyd, Primrose Kpokposei, David Imole and Welman Warri at the Federal High Court Yenagoa.

Joined as defendants in the suit are the National Assembly, the Clerk of the National Assembly and the Attorney General of the Federation.

In the court documents, the Egbesu Assembly premised their action on the alleged failure of the federal government particularly the National Assembly to deliberate, approve and amend the relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

This, according to them, is to allow for resource control as well as the creation of additional LGAs in the state to fulfil the requirements in line with the Constitution.

The group is therefore seeking, among others, the amendment of the constitution by the National Assembly to allow for the right to resource control.

The Supreme Egbesu Assembly described the suit action as a promise kept.

Mranwh, In a press statement announcing the institution of the lawsuit on Tuesday, the Egbesu Assembly recalled that, on 12th February 2026, it wrote to both the Federal Government and the National Assembly wherein its gave a 21-Day ultimatum for the duo to respond to the age-long demands for resource control and creation of additional LGAs or face a lawsuit.

The statement partly reads: “Recall that on 12th February 2026, we did inform you that we have written to the National Assembly and the federal government on the need for the creation of an additional 24 Local Government Areas in Bayelsa State as well as the control of our God-given natural resources in Ijaw territory.

“We promised that if the National Assembly and or federal government did not respond to these age-long demands, we were going to seek legal actions to address our demands.

News

BREAKING: Tinubu Sacks Wale Edun, Dangiwa As Ministers

Published

7 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Editor

President Bola Tinubu has approved a minor reshuffle of the Federal Executive Council, removing the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, from their cabinet positions.

Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yomi Odunuga, said the development was contained in a memo signed by the
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.

According to the memo, Taiwo Oyedele has been appointed as the new Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy.

Also appointed is Dr. Muttaqha Darma as Minister-designate for Housing and Urban Development.

The memo directed the outgoing ministers to complete handover processes to their respective successors or supervising officials.

It stated that all handing over and taking over activities must be concluded on or before the close of business on Thursday, 23rd April, 2026.

Explaining the decision, Akume said the changes were aimed at improving coordination and strengthening delivery across key sectors of the economy under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“These changes are aimed at strengthening cohesion, synergy in governance as well as achieving more impactful delivery on the economy to Nigerians, through the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Akume stated.

He added that President Tinubu acted in line with his constitutional powers as provided under Sections 147 and 148 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The SGF also conveyed the President’s appreciation to the outgoing ministers for their service to the nation and wished them well in their future endeavours, noting that the process of cabinet reinvigoration would remain continuous.

The statement further noted that Taiwo Oyedele was appointed as Minister of State for Finance in March 2026, while Edun was among the ministers appointed on August 16, 2023.