All Progressives Congress

All Progressives Congress
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Name	All Progressives Congress
Abbreviation	APC
Leader	Bola Tinubu
Founder	Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Nuhu Ribadu; Rabiu Kwankwaso; Atiku Abubakar; Peter Obi
Founded	2013
Headquarters	Abuja
Country	Nigeria
Ideology	Progressivism; Conservatism; Federalism
Position	Centre-right
Colors	Green, White

All Progressives Congress

The All Progressives Congress is a major political party in Nigeria formed in 2013 from a merger of opposition parties to challenge the then-dominant People's Democratic Party. It has contested and held executive and legislative offices at federal and state levels, including the presidency and majorities in the National Assembly. Prominent figures associated with the party include Bola Tinubu, Muhammadu Buhari, Olusegun Obasanjo, Rochas Okorocha, and Bukola Saraki.

History

The party emerged from the merger of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Congress for Progressive Change, All Nigeria Peoples Party, and factions of the People's Democratic Party and Labour Party in 2013, following negotiations among leaders such as Bola Tinubu, Muhammadu Buhari, Chibuike Amaechi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso. Its formation was spurred by the 2011 presidential election aftermath, alliances formed during the 2015 election, and strategic defections from regional actors like Bukola Saraki and Aminu Tambuwal. The party secured the presidency in 2015 with Muhammadu Buhari and again influenced federal appointments and state-level contests in subsequent cycles, facing competition from PDP and emerging forces such as Labour Party and Youth Party movements.

Ideology and Platform

The party's stated platform combines elements of Progressivism, Conservatism, and Federalism, advocating for anti-corruption measures inspired by initiatives linked to figures like Nuhu Ribadu. Policy priorities have included economic diversification referenced against petroleum reliance, infrastructural development echoing projects associated with Bauchi State and Lagos State administrations, and security reforms responding to crises involving Boko Haram, Niger Delta Avengers, and communal conflicts in Benue State. Its rhetoric has invoked privatization debates around entities such as Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and fiscal policies touched by comparisons to reforms in South Africa and United Kingdom.

Organization and Leadership

The party is structured with national, state, and local organs, including a National Executive Committee featuring chairpersons, national secretaries, and zonal coordinators, with leadership contests often involving personalities like Adams Oshiomhole, John Odigie-Oyegun, Ireti Kingibe, and Uche Secondus. Internal governance has been shaped by courts such as the Supreme Court of Nigeria resolving disputes over leadership and primaries, and by electoral commissions like the Independent National Electoral Commission. Factional alignments have mirrored regional blocs—North, South-West, South-East, South-South—with patrons from Lagos State, Kano State, Kaduna State, and Rivers State competing for influence.

Electoral Performance

The party won the 2015 and 2019 presidential elections with Muhammadu Buhari (2015, 2019) and contested the 2023 election with a ticket led by Bola Tinubu, facing opponents such as Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Peter Obi of the Labour Party. It has held majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives at various times, and governed numerous states including Lagos State, Kano State, and Rivers State. Electoral outcomes have reflected regional swings and defections, with by-elections and gubernatorial races influenced by figures like Emmanuel Udom and Nyesom Wike.

Policies and Governance

In governance, the party pursued fiscal and security policies emphasizing anti-corruption, subsidy reforms affecting the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, and infrastructure projects in transportation and energy linked to agencies such as the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. Its administration engaged in foreign relations with partners including United States, China, and United Kingdom on investment and security cooperation, and negotiated agreements relevant to the ECOWAS and the African Union. Education and health sector interactions involved federal and state collaborations with bodies like the Tertiary Education Trust Fund and National Primary Health Care Development Agency.

Controversies and Criticism

The party has faced criticism and legal challenges over primary processes, internal democracy disputes adjudicated by the Court of Appeal (Nigeria) and Supreme Court of Nigeria, allegations of electoral malpractice contested before the Election Petition Tribunal (Nigeria), and questions about policy impacts on poverty and unemployment cited by analysts referencing World Bank and International Monetary Fund data. High-profile controversies include debates over fuel subsidy removal, security responses to Boko Haram and banditry, and corruption allegations involving politicians who have been subject to investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Regional tensions and defections to rivals like PDP and Labour Party have also fueled criticism from civil society groups such as Nigeria Labour Congress and Human Rights Watch.

Category:Political parties in Nigeria