Musa, a former Chief of Defence Staff who retired in October 2025, was listed as number 71 on the committee constituted on Monday by the APC National Working Committee, a move widely seen as confirming his entry into partisan politics.
Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd), has formally aligned with the All Progressives Congress (APC) after being named as a member of the party’s 73-member Central Coordination Committee for its 2026 National Convention.
Musa, a former Chief of Defence Staff who retired in October 2025, was listed as number 71 on the committee constituted on Monday by the APC National Working Committee, a move widely seen as confirming his entry into partisan politics.
His inclusion follows public comments made during an interview on Channels TV, where he declared his intention to join the APC and pledge support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Asked whether he was already a card-carrying member of the party, Musa said he was not yet officially registered but made his political direction clear.
“Not yet. But I think I will be, definitely. The APC has given me the platform to present myself right from when I was CDS till date, so why not? Mr President needs all the support. I will give him all my support, including moving forward to a second term,” he had said.
The APC appointed Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, as chairman of the Central Coordination Committee. Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, was named vice chairman, while Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, would serve as secretary.
Other members of the committee include top-ranking political office holders and party powerbrokers such as Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and former APC national chairmen Adams Oshiomhole, Abdullahi Adamu and Abdullahi Ganduje.
The party also released a revised timetable for its internal congresses, with ward congresses scheduled for February 18 and the national convention fixed for March 27 and 28.
According to the APC, female aspirants, youths and persons with disabilities will pay 50 per cent of nomination fees. Ekiti, Osun, Rivers states and the Federal Capital Territory have been excluded from the congresses but will be allowed to elect delegates to the national convention.