2027: APC NEC endorse Tinubu for second term

. Buhari, Osinbajo, Amaechi, Fayemi, Lawan, others absent

. As Ganduje laments N9.8bn legal liabilities.

. President urges leadership to make party first choice of politicians.

CHIGOZIE AMADI

Prominent All Progressives Congress, APC, founding members, including former President Muhammadu Buhari and many ministers who served with him as notable members of the party were conspicuously absent at the Wednesday, February 2025 National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the APC held at the Abuja National Secretariat of the party.

Notable absentees at the high-stake party meeting were former President Muhammadu Buhari, ex-Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo and others such as Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, who are obviously angry with the party leadership.

Others are former governors Chief Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers and Dr. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, former Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, former Speaker and current Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, among others.

No reason was given for their absence but it may not be unconnected with hostile attacks by the rebellious members of the party and the current administration.

Meanwhile, the chances of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu re-contesting his position in 2027 received major boost during the APC NEC meeting as participating members gave Tinubu overwhelming vote of confidence with a resounding endorsement and shouts of “no vacancy in Aso Rock” after the usual song of “on your mandate we stand” which started when Tinubu arrived at the meeting venue.

Interestingly, President Tinubu, who smiled throughout the meeting while a deafening song from party supporters lasted took over proceedings, and he did not make any attempt to stop the song.

In his speech, the party’s National Chairman, Dr.Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, lamented that his administration inherited a whooping liability of N8.987 billion legal liabilities.

He explained that the liability amount emanated from legal engagements during the pre-election matters, election cases and appeals for legislative, governorship and presidential elections.

He also requested for a new National Secretariat building, stating that: “As part of the commitment to secure and own a national secretariat complex befitting of the ruling party and one that would conveniently accommodate our national officers, the newly established Progressive Institute as well as the three wings of the party, have formally applied for a land at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) that will drive this project.

“May I, therefore, appeal for the kind intervention of Mr. President for this project to materialise,” Ganduje pleaded.

Incumbent APC governors who were in attendance included Edo State’s Monday Okpebholo, Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Benue State, Hyacinth Iormem Alia, Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, Kaduna State, Musa Sani, Nasarawa State, Abdulahi Sule, Yobe State Mai Mala Buni, Kogi State, Usman Ododo, Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, and Niger State Mohammed Umar Bago, among others.

Former governors in attendance include Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, his Kebbi counterpart and the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Kogi State Yahaya Bello and Zamfara State, Bello Mattawalle, among others.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Senator George Akume, Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu was present during the meeting.

Former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, and other principal officers of the National Assembly, Ministers, among others, were also present.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President, Goodwill Akpabio, Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas equally took active part at the meeting’

Meanwhile, President Tinubu has commended the leadership of the APC for the electoral successes that the party recorded from one state to another in the past few months and charged the leaders to ensure that the party remains a destination of first choice for Nigerian politicians.

“I am happy for the various people joining us (APC) everywhere and in the national assembly. I thank the leadership of our party for this. Let the NEC find a way to celebrate our progressive ideals. And I promise you our governors and Nigerians that we will sustain these progressive changes,” Tinubu said while speaking at the APC National Executive Committee meeting held at the APC National Secretariat on Wednesday.

He said that economic shocks are everywhere in the world, even I’m Europe while appealing to Nigerians to remain patient assuring that the administration remains focused on reviving the economy and placing Nigeria on the route to success and growth.

His words: “Everywhere in the world especially in Europe, we have economic shocks and we are doing everything possible.”

Tinubu agreed with Dr.Ganduje on the need to relocate the APC National Secretariat from it’s present location at Buhari House, number 40 Blantyre Street, Wuse 2, Abuja to a more spacious place .

“The place we are gathering today is too small for us and I agree with you that we need a bigger location. I think the Minister of National Economic Planning is here, we discussed with the minster in charge and we will do something about it.

“The national working committee is doing a good job and I am happy with them. In all the various states let us set up reconciliatory committees to liaise with aggrieved leaders. I am appealing to them, please be calm. I am very happy and I promise not to let any of you down,” Tinubu said.

Earlier the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Abdulahi Umar Ganduje told ge gathering that “it has been a year and a half since he accepted the honour and responsibility to lead the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to Ganduje, “Though the journey has been very challenging to us as a ruling Party in view of the big task we have at hand and the expectation from Nigerians, however, we can sufficiently submit that we have collectively risen to the occasion and challenges.”

He disclosed that in fulfilment of the promise of taking the Party to the grassroots, the National Working Committee introduced new people-centred approach to campaigns and the usual practice of inaugurating national campaign governorship councils for states in Abuja

“The campaign councils are inaugurated in the affected states to allow for more and greater participation by Party members and other stakeholders in their respective states.

“This innovation has helped to engage the right people to organise and manage campaigns in their states for effective delivery before and during the election. Your Excellencies, as you are aware, we won governorship elections in Imo, Kogi, Edo and Ondo, but unfortunately lost in Bayelsa State. The details of the election results are contained in your folder.”

Ganduje also spoke about reconciling the aggrieved members of the party and prevented them from leaving in annoyance.

“Your Excellencies, we have also embarked on massive reconciliation of aggrieved party members, and this move is gradually yielding desired positive results for the Party. Through dialogue, we have initiated high level discussions amongst party leaders and other stakeholders with a view to resolve lingering differences between our members. The Conflict reconciliation Committee which you are about to approve will build on this,” Ganduje said.