THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has confirmed that 8,453 delegates will attend its 2026 and 8th National Convention, scheduled to hold from Friday, March 27 to Saturday, March 28 in Abuja.

The convention, described by party officials as a major decision-making and policy engagement platform, will bring together representatives from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to elect new executives, review party policies, and chart the APC’s strategic direction.

In a statement on Thursday , the party’s Media and Publicity Committee , Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, emphasised that the convention theme, “Unity in Progress: Consolidating the Renewed Hope Agenda,” reflects the party’s commitment to cohesion and continuity.

” The convention is not only a forum for leadership elections but also a moment for reflection, consolidation, and planning for the party’s future trajectory,” he said.

The Labour Party (LP) has zoned its presidential ticket to the southern region of the country.

Although the issue of zoning is not in Nigeria’s constitution, it is adopted by some political parties in the spirit of equity and fairness.

The South-South of Nigeria comprises of Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross-River, Delta, Edo, and Rivers States and is geographically located within the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

LP’s National Caretaker Committee Chairman, Nenadi Usman, disclosed this during a meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja on Tuesday.

“We have one certain decision that we have taken, and that is that we will certainly not field any aspirant from Northern Nigeria. We have zoned the position to southern Nigeria,” Usman said , emphasising , “So if any northerner comes now to want to contest elections, we certainly will not accept that.”

She insisted that the party would adhere to internal democratic processes, declining to name any potential candidate.“As for who, I can’t tell you now because then it won’t be democratic anymore.

Whoever the people like and vote for during the primaries… could be the candidate,” the former minister of finance said.“To God be the glory, the case was thrown out because it lacked merit,” she noted, adding that the judge “stood on truth”.

She also spotlighted the party’s prospects for the 2027 general elections, hinting at a review of the date for LP’s upcoming congresses due to a surge in membership.

“If we go ahead to stick to that date, to my mind, we are going to disenfranchise quite a number of people,” Usman said.

Peter Obi has assured Nigerians that he could govern the country effectively even from Kaduna, stressing that location would not hinder his leadership.

He spoke on Sunday during a meeting with African Democratic Congress (ADC) stakeholders in Kaduna.

“Abuja to Kaduna is less than two hours; so nothing stops a president from attending meetings here and returning. In fact, I can serve Nigeria from Kaduna without a single problem,” he said.

The visit formed part of Obi’s nationwide consultations, providing an opportunity to engage party chieftains and gauge the political mood in the state. He observed a strong commitment among stakeholders, noting that their motivation extended beyond political ambition to a genuine desire to serve the people.

Moreover, Obi highlighted Kaduna’s strategic importance, recalling its past as a major hub for industry, agriculture, and commerce.

He emphasised that with disciplined, competent, and people-oriented leadership, the state’s lost glory could be restored for the benefit of all citizens.