A leading policy think tank within the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Progressive Research Initiative (PRI), has raised concerns about those angling to lead the party, declaring that Senator Tanko Al-Makura and Chief Barnabas Gemade do not possess the competence or contemporary political credentials required to guide the ruling party into the 2027 elections.
In a statement jointly signed by Dr. Ali Ahmed and Dr. Tersoo Aondona, senior research fellows of the PRI, the group described the two aspirants as “yesterday’s men seeking tomorrow’s responsibilities”, and warned that recycling obsolete figures would jeopardise the party’s prospects in a fast-evolving political environment.
“We have studied, with concern, the growing speculation around the possible return of Senator Al-Makura and Chief Barnabas Gemade to national party leadership,” the statement reads.
“Our findings are unequivocal: neither of them reflects the tactical depth, ideological clarity, or generational appeal that the APC desperately needs ahead of 2027.”
The group noted that Senator Al-Makura, a former governor of Nasarawa State and senator, has not demonstrated the political energy or innovative leadership style required to reform and reposition the APC at this critical juncture.
“Al-Makura’s public record since leaving the governorship has been marked by silence and political absenteeism. He is banking on past associations rather than proven ability to organise, mobilise or inspire. In a moment that demands strategic clarity, ideological rearmament and mass appeal, he offers only nostalgia,” said the PRI.
“Gemade was once national chairman of the PDP — a party we defeated — and later served as senator. But let’s be clear: his politics belongs to the analogue era. He lacks resonance with the youth, no ideological grounding in the APC’s progressive credentials, and has no track record of party building in the digital age.Chief Gemade cannot be the face of a 21st-century ruling party.”
While the group refrained from endorsing any candidate for the national chairmanship, it called on President Bola Tinubu to “look inwards” and prioritise competence, cohesion and capacity over compensation politics.
“The APC does not need a caretaker. It needs a combat-tested strategist who understands the stakes of 2027 — and who can unify the party, reinvigorate the base, and speak to the dreams of everyday Nigerians. President Tinubu must resist the pressure to reward loyalty at the cost of victory,” the research group stated.
The PRI warned that the 2027 election would be a referendum not just on performance but on leadership coherence, and that the national chairman of the APC would play a pivotal role in shaping narratives, managing internal disputes, and confronting a resurgent opposition.
“The next chairman must be one who can beat the opposition to the storylines, restore discipline to party structures, and rebuild trust among the youth, women, and civil society actors. None of this can be achieved by men who peaked politically in the last century,” the statement said.
The think tank urged President Tinubu to consider the evolving structure of voter behaviour, where digital mobilisation, coalition politics, and policy-based engagement will define the next electoral season.
“This is a moment for renewal, not recycling. Our democracy cannot afford an APC that looks tired, dated, or indifferent to the changing tides. We must find new leadership that speaks the language of reform and understands the rhythm of our times,” it said.
Concluding, PRI warned that ignoring these realities would not only be a strategic blunder, but a historic mistake.
“We owe the Nigerian people a vibrant, disciplined, and ideologically coherent ruling party. Anything less would be a betrayal of our progressive promise.”
The Progressive Research Initiative is an independent policy and political think tank dedicated to evidence-based strategy and internal party renewal.
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