politics

Contractors Threaten APC Convention Protest Over Debt

Published

8 months ago

March 25, 2026

Q Tinny

Contractors APC protest debt threat as AICAN demands N150bn payment, warning of action at party convention in Abuja

The All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria on Tuesday threatened to stage a protest at the upcoming national convention of the All Progressives Congress over alleged unpaid debts owed to its members by the Federal Government.

Also read: APC Intensifies South-West Congress Preparations

The warning was issued in Abuja on March 24, 2026, by AICAN National President, Jackson Nwosu, during the resumption of the contractors’ protest, where he demanded the immediate payment of N150bn within 48 hours.

Nwosu said the contractors APC protest debt demand stems from earlier commitments made by the government following protests between December 2025 and January 2026, adding that only N21bn had been paid so far.

“For AICAN members, the government has only paid N21bn within this period. What is remaining to be paid is over N1tn, but what we are discussing as the immediate payment we need is N150bn,” he said.

He warned that failure to meet the demand could disrupt the APC national convention scheduled to hold in Abuja from March 27 to 28.

“We will stage our protest at the APC convention venue. We will be there and make sure it is known to the world that this government is deceptive,” Nwosu added.

According to him, discussions are ongoing with officials of the Ministry of Finance, with expectations that payments would be made directly into contractors’ accounts.

Also speaking, AICAN National Secretary, Babatunde Seun, said members were increasingly frustrated by what he described as repeated delays and unmet commitments.

Seun attributed part of the delay to the extension of the 2024 budget implementation cycle, noting that no additional payments had been made since January.

He alleged that the financial strain had severe consequences for members, including cases where contractors were unable to access critical medical care due to unpaid debts.

Seun further claimed that attempts to channel the payments through the Debt Management Office would be resisted by the association, insisting on direct settlement.

The group maintained that the total outstanding debt owed to indigenous contractors stands at approximately N1.15tn, urging the Federal Government to prioritise the immediate release of the requested funds.

Also read: APC Intensifies South-West Congress Preparations

The contractors APC protest debt threat adds pressure ahead of the ruling party’s convention, with observers noting that any disruption could carry political and reputational implications.

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politics

2027: Political Parties Mobilise Thousands of Polling Agents

Published

14 hours ago

November 8, 2026

Mariam Balogun

Political parties in Nigeria have intensified the recruitment and training of polling agents ahead of the 2027 general elections, as preparations shift towards securing representation at polling units across the country.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), are putting structures in place to monitor voting, counting and collation of results.

The development comes as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) introduces an electronic platform for political parties to nominate and submit the details of their polling agents, replacing the manual submission system used in previous elections.

Nigeria has 176,846 polling units, making nationwide representation a major logistical undertaking for parties seeking to monitor the electoral process from the grassroots.

The APC has claimed that it has recruited 4,421,150 polling agents across the country’s polling units.

Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, disclosed the figure while speaking at a two-day national retreat of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors in Abuja.

The ruling party said its mobilisation was part of efforts to strengthen its grassroots presence and ensure adequate representation during the elections.

The opposition parties are also developing their own strategies, with some focusing on recruiting committed members, screening nominees and training officials responsible for submitting agents’ details to INEC.

PDP trains officials, warns against double agents

The PDP has begun training its state executives and officials responsible for uploading the details of its polling agents to INEC’s online portal.

At a capacity-building session in Abuja on November 2, the party’s National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, urged participants to take the exercise seriously and extend the training to officials at the local government and ward levels.

He stressed that election monitoring began at polling units, where party agents played an important role in protecting candidates’ interests.

The party’s National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, also cautioned state executives against engaging individuals who were not committed members of the party.

Bature warned against the recruitment of so-called double agents who could abandon their responsibilities or work for rival parties during elections.

He urged party officials to properly screen nominees and prioritise loyal members who had demonstrated commitment to the organisation.

The PDP subsequently directed its state secretaries to submit their agents’ details to the national leadership by December 2, ahead of the commission’s submission deadline.

Labour Party draws lessons from 2023 election

The Labour Party has also commenced the recruitment, screening and notification of polling agents as part of its preparations for the 2027 elections.

Its Interim National Chairman, Nenadi Usman, said the party was drawing lessons from the 2023 general elections, particularly the difficulties it encountered in obtaining comprehensive coverage of polling units.