President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is taking a more direct role in shaping the future of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), signaling a shift in the party’s internal power dynamics as preparations for the 2027 elections gather pace.
In a calculated move, the President has tasked his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, alongside Political Adviser Ibrahim Masari, with overseeing the party’s National Assembly primaries. The decision effectively introduces a new layer of presidential oversight into a process traditionally dominated by state governors.
Party insiders say the intervention reflects growing concern within the presidency about the outsized influence governors have historically wielded in determining legislative candidates—often sidelining broader party interests and internal competition.
By positioning Gbajabiamila and Masari as intermediaries between governors and the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), Tinubu appears intent on recalibrating that balance. The duo is expected to monitor compliance with party guidelines, manage disputes, and ensure that candidate selection aligns more closely with the President’s strategic vision.
Although the NWC retains constitutional authority to conduct the primaries under Nigeria’s Electoral Act, the newly introduced supervisory structure underscores a subtle but significant consolidation of power at the center.
The move has also sparked quiet debates within party ranks. While some stakeholders view it as a necessary step to strengthen internal democracy and reduce imposition of candidates, others interpret it as an effort to tighten presidential control over the party’s legislative machinery ahead of a critical election cycle.
Sources familiar with the development note that Tinubu deliberately limited the supervisory team to a small, trusted circle despite pressure from influential party figures seeking inclusion—an approach seen as aimed at preserving credibility and minimizing internal friction.
Meanwhile, Gbajabiamila has publicly dismissed speculation that he lobbied for the role, reiterating his alignment with the administration’s “Renewed Hope” agenda and framing his involvement as part of a broader commitment to institutional stability within the party.
