At a recent National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, President Bola Tinubu issued a stern warning to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), stating that its current control of 28 states is not a guarantee of future electoral success. He emphasized the critical need for the party to deliberately build political structures in states where it lacks governors, cautioning against the risk of 'diminishing returns' ahead of the 2027 general election. Tinubu stressed vigilance in these states, asserting that proper state-level structuring, rather than complacency, is essential for winning governorships and sustaining electoral dominance.

Vice President Kashim Shettima echoed these sentiments, delivering a lengthy tribute to President Tinubu's political evolution and his role in sustaining Nigeria’s opposition structures before the 2013 merger that birthed the APC. Shettima dismissed the notion that social media agitation wins elections, stating that electoral outcomes are determined by coalitions, credibility, and conviction. He cautioned that incumbency alone would not secure a second term, describing 2027 as a 'responsibility' demanding discipline, organization, and a clear understanding of past lessons.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio pledged the National Assembly's continued support for Tinubu’s reform agenda, highlighting the timely processing of executive bills and requests to stabilize governance. Akpabio announced that amendments to the Electoral Act would be finalized by the end of January to establish clear timelines for congresses, primaries, and the 2027 contest, thereby preventing pre-election administrative gaps. He also urged governors to collaborate more effectively with legislators at both state and federal levels, recognizing the legislature's proximity to the grassroots and its importance in achieving democratic consensus.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, urged the APC to deepen internal cohesion and treat governance as a 'contract between the party and the Nigerian people.' He warned that the APC 'is not the same party it was in 2015, 2019 or 2023,' and stressed that relations between founding and newer blocs must be managed with sensitivity, fairness, and institutional discipline to prevent internal fragmentation. Abbas proposed a quarterly governance-delivery dashboard, a legislative-executive program grid to track manifesto promises, and stronger internal dispute resolution mechanisms to protect cohesion. He also called for more rigor in candidate selection to avoid electoral liabilities, citing the House's productivity with 2,263 bills processed and 68 assented to between June 2023 and June 2025.

Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, led APC governors in passing a fresh vote of confidence in President Tinubu. Uzodimma commended Tinubu's economic reforms, including the removal of petrol subsidies and the crackdown on currency racketeering, arguing that these actions were necessary to halt the nation's economic collapse which was in a 'state of coma' when Tinubu assumed office. He claimed that inflation had dropped sharply, petrol prices had stabilized, and federal revenue reaching states and local governments had increased. Uzodimma also praised Tinubu's 'fire-for-fire' approach to insecurity, citing successful rescue operations, and dismissed claims of religious persecution as 'imported lies.' He declared that the APC, controlling 28 of 36 states, was ready to expand its political reach, urging Tinubu to 'keep his foot on the gas.'

In a direct warning to governors, President Tinubu demanded compliance with the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy, asserting that direct funding to the nation’s 774 councils is a constitutional duty his administration would enforce. He stated, 'Give them their money directly. If you wait for my executive order, because I have the knife, I have the yam, I will cut it.' Tinubu stressed that any resistance to this constitutional mandate would amount to sabotage of local governance, insisting councils must receive funds 'fact after fact' to restore basic services and confidence at the grassroots.

Furthermore, President Tinubu urged APC leaders at all levels to be accommodating of defectors, newcomers, and minorities, particularly in states where the party lacks critical mass, to build resilience. On security, he reaffirmed an 'irreversible' plan to introduce state policing, directing the National Assembly to summon the Inspector-General of Police and begin building legislative safeguards and accountability. He also signaled impatience with resistance to electronic membership registration, warning that officials blocking it could lose that responsibility to Abuja. Concluding with a call for restraint within the party, Tinubu warned against imposition battles and winner-take-all instincts, emphasizing that APC’s size makes internal conflict a national issue and that Nigeria’s democracy, being the 'heart of the continent,' must not fail.