The All Progressives Congress (APC) is one of Nigeria’s two major political parties, alongside the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
It was formed on February 6, 2013, through a merger of three major opposition parties: the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), along with some members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and a faction of the PDP.
The party was officially approved by Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on July 31, 2013. In 2015, APC made history when its presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, won the election, making it the first time an opposition party defeated a ruling party in Nigeria.
Buhari was re-elected in 2019, and in 2023, APC candidate Bola Tinubu won the presidential election. The party has held power for years, controlling both the presidency and most seats in Nigeria’s National Assembly.
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List Of APC National Chairmen Since 2013
No | Name | Tenure | Political Background |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Chief Bisi Akande | 2013 - 2014 | Former Governor of Osun State |
2 | Chief John Odigie-Oyegun | 2014 - 2018 | Former Governor of Edo State |
3 | Comrade Adams Oshiomhole | 2018 - 2020 | Former Governor of Edo State |
4 | Mai Mala Buni | 2020 - 2022 | Governor of Yobe State |
5 | Senator Abdullahi Adamu | 2022 - July 2023 | Senator from Nasarawa State |
6 | Senator Abubakar Kyari (Acting) | July 2023 - Aug 2023 | Senator from Borno State |
7 | Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje | August 2023 - Present | Former Governor of Kano State |
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The First National Chairman Of The All Progressive Congress
Chief Adebisi Akande was the first interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He was born on January 16, 1939, in Ila Orangun, now in Osun State, Nigeria.
Akande started his political career as the Deputy Governor of Oyo State from 1982 to 1983, serving under Governor Bola Ige. He later became the Governor of Osun State in 1999 under the Alliance for Democracy (AD) party.
Akande made several changes in the state during his time as the governor. He focused on free education and free medical care, improved water supply, and tried to reduce the size of the government workforce.
However, some of his policies were controversial, like the dismissal of many government workers and the dissolution of the state’s Council of Obas and Chiefs.
During his time in office, there was also political tension between him and his deputy governor, Iyiola Omisore. This dispute led to conflicts, including the murder of prominent politicians like Bola Ige and Odunayo Olagbaju.
Akande ran for a second term in 2003 but lost to Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). After leaving office, he remained active in politics.
In 2003, he became the chairman of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) after a divided party held separate conventions. However, his leadership was challenged by other party members, leading to further conflicts.
In 2006, Akande and his political group merged with other opposition parties to form the Action Congress (AC), which later became the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
By 2013, Akande was one of the key figures in the merger of several political parties, including the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), to form the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Akande has spoken on many national issues throughout his political career, like democracy, governance, and youth employment. He has also criticized the federal government’s approach to solving problems, especially in the Niger Delta.
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The Current National Chairman Of The All Progressive Congress
Abdullahi Umar Ganduje became the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on August 3, 2023, after the party’s National Executive Committee appointed him to replace Abdullahi Adamu, who resigned from the position.
His appointment was later challenged by the North Central APC Forum, led by Saleh Zazzaga. The group argued that the position should have remained in the North Central region, as Adamu was from that region, while Ganduje is from Kano State in the North West.
Despite this, on September 23, 2024, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed the lawsuit, allowing Ganduje to remain as chairman.
In January 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Ganduje as the board chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), an agency under the Ministry of Aviation.
Ganduje has been active in Nigerian politics for many years. In 2014, he was chosen as the APC’s consensus candidate for the Governor of Kano State.
In the 2015 elections, he defeated Malam Salihu Takai of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by a wide margin, securing over 1.5 million votes.
He was inaugurated as governor on May 29, 2015, succeeding his political mentor, Rabiu Kwankwaso. However, during his first term, Ganduje had a major fallout with Kwankwaso, whom he accused of political godfatherism.
During his time as governor, Ganduje also had conflicts with Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, the traditional ruler of Kano. He accused the Emir of financial recklessness and launched investigations against him.
In 2019, he created four new emirates in Kano, reducing the influence of the Kano Emirate. As a result, Sanusi’s authority was limited to only 10 out of the 44 local government areas in Kano State.
In March 2020, a fresh investigation into Sanusi began, and on March 9, Ganduje removed and exiled him for alleged insubordination and disrespect to lawful orders.
Ganduje was re-elected as governor in 2019 after defeating Abba Kabir Yusuf, the son-in-law of Kwankwaso. Yet, the election was controversial, with reports of electoral malpractices.
Despite the controversies, he completed his second term as governor and remained an influential figure in Nigerian politics, eventually becoming the National Chairman of the APC.
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Current Deputy National Chairman Of The All Progressive Congress
The current Deputy National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nigeria is Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori, who represents the northern region.
Dalori has also served as a councilor three times and was elected chairman of Konduga Local Government Area three times before becoming Deputy National Chairman of APC.