The All Progressives Congress has confirmed that it will retain the existing zoning arrangement for national offices ahead of its 2026 National Convention, ending uncertainty over possible changes to the party’s power-sharing formula.
The clarification followed recent debate within the party over whether a fresh zoning structure would be introduced before the convention. By affirming the existing formula, the APC leadership has now provided a clearer framework for aspirants and party stakeholders preparing for the contest for national offices.
The decision means the party will go into the convention with the current allocation of key positions across the geo-political zones still in place. That is expected to guide consultations, narrow the field of eligible contenders for specific offices and reduce internal friction as the process gathers pace.
A fresh report by The Nation says the APC has ratified the existing zoning arrangement for national offices and directed aspirants to follow it when buying and submitting nomination forms. According to that report, the current arrangement remains valid for the 2026 convention.
Under that reported arrangement, the key offices are allocated as follows:
National Chairman, North Central, micro-zoned to Plateau.
Deputy National Chairman, North, North East, micro-zoned to Borno.
Deputy National Chairman, South, micro-zoned to Enugu.
National Secretary, South West, currently held by Osun.
Assistant National Secretary, North Central, allocated to Nasarawa.
National Treasurer, micro-zoned to Ebonyi.
National Organising Secretary, Kebbi.
Deputy National Organising Secretary, Anambra.
National Women Leader, Edo.
National Youth Leader, Lagos.
National Leader of Persons With Disabilities, Ogun.
The zoning arrangement remains one of the APC’s main internal mechanisms for balancing interests across regions. Its retention is likely to be seen as an attempt by the party to preserve continuity and manage competing ambitions ahead of the convention.
With the issue of zoning now clarified, attention is expected to shift to the contest for individual offices and the political negotiations that will shape the party’s next National Working Committee.
The 2026 National Convention is expected to play a major role in determining the APC’s internal balance of power ahead of the next electoral cycle.
