Consensus simply means a general agreement reached by a group of people after due consultation and deliberation. It is not necessarily unanimity, but it reflects a decision that everyone can live with, even if it is not everyone’s first choice. Consensus emphasizes harmony, compromise, and collective ownership of decisions.
In a narrow sense, political consensus refers to a decision-making process where party members or stakeholders agree on a candidate, policy, or direction without resorting to a divisive vote. Rather than counting numbers to determine winners and losers, political consensus seeks to build broad agreement that unites different interests within a political structure.
Political consensus has deep historical roots. Its practice can be traced to ancient deliberative assemblies such as the Senate of the Roman Republic, where negotiation and persuasion were key tools of governance. It was further developed in parliamentary traditions, particularly in the Parliament of the United Kingdom, where cross-party agreements and internal party arrangements often rely on consultation and compromise rather than mere numerical superiority. In many African traditional political systems, consensus was the bedrock of leadership selection, with elders and stakeholders engaging in prolonged dialogue until agreement was reached.
While voting is a legitimate democratic tool, it often creates factions, winners, and losers. In internal party politics, especially during congresses and primaries, voting can deepen divisions, breed resentment, and weaken cohesion. Consensus, on the other hand, promotes unity by minimising bitterness, ensuring that major stakeholders are carried along in decision-making; reducing litigation and crisis as many post-congress disputes arise from contested votes.
Consensus reduces grounds for conflict. It encourages dialogue and fosters negotiation, mutual respect, and compromise. It strengthens party discipline. When leaders emerge through consensus, they are seen as products of collective will, not factional triumph.
Consensus is particularly valuable in a large and diverse political party where varied interests must coexist under one umbrella.
The advantages of political consensus cannot be overemphasised. It builds a stable foundation for party operations. It reduces the time and the resources spent on acrimonious contests. Also, decisions reached by consensus are jointly owned, making implementation smoother. There is an advantage of long-term cohesion in political consensus. It prevents the emergence of deep-rooted internal opposition blocs.
Therefore, the adoption of consensus across board by the All Progressives Congress (APC) for its congresses is a most welcome development. It reflects political maturity and strategic foresight. As Nigeria approaches critical electoral cycles, unity within party ranks is non-negotiable. By choosing consensus, APC demonstrates its understanding that internal harmony is a prerequisite for external victory.
Rather than allowing internal contests to fracture its structure, APC has embraced dialogue and accommodation. This approach positions the party as organized, disciplined, and forward-looking. It shows that the party values collective strength over individual ambition.
In a political environment often characterized by intense rivalry, APC’s consensus model stands as a testament to responsible party management. It signals stability to members, supporters, and the wider electorate. Indeed, APC has chosen the path of unity over division, consultation over confrontation, and consensus over conflict.
With the appointment of a 5-man committee headed by the politically experienced Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, it is hoped that conflicts that may arise from the consensus arrangement will, in no time, be settled. APC is a conclave not of discord, but of healthy agreement.
Maroof Asudemade is a staunch APC member from Ward 3, Constituency I, Ibadan South West Local Government.
