The All Progressives Congress (APC) has shut the door against other prospective aspirants for the party’s 2027 presidential ticket.
At its National Executive Committee (NEC), the party’s highest decision-making body, the party passed a vote of confidence in President Tinubu and endorsed him for a second term.
The NEC equally passed a vote of confidence in the APC national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and the entire National Working Committee (NWC) and ratified the zoning of the national chairmanship slot to the northwest geopolitical zone.
These were some of the outcomes of the Wednesday NEC meeting held at the APC national secretariat in Abuja.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu attended the meeting.
Others at the meeting include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume; former deputy Senate president Ovie Omo-Agege; principal officers of the National Assembly; ministers who are members of the NEC; and governors of the party.
However, prominent party leaders and members, including former President Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former governors Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna, and Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state, former Senate President Ahmed Lawan and former Speaker and current Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, amongst others, were absent.
President Tinubu got the endorsement of the NEC to run for a second term in the 2027 general election as the chants of “no vacancy at Aso Rock” rented air in the makeshift NEC hall.
Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma moved the motion for a vote of confidence on the president, and former Edo state governor, Sen. Adams Oshiomhole, seconded it.
Uzodinma said that since the president assumed office on May 29, 2023, he has been able to take the bull by the horns and initiate policies that have long-term benefits, such as removing the fuel subsidy and unifying the foreign exchange rate, among others.
Briefing journalists after the NEC’s business session, APC national publicity secretary Felix Morka said the party’s highest organ passed the vote of confidence on Tinubu due to his efforts to turn around the country’s socio-economic fortunes.
Morka said the NEC also approved the party’s audited statements, accounts and budget, just as it formed a committee headed by Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State to work on co-opting more members into the highest organ.
“Today, under the leadership of this president, our country is witnessing something that we haven’t seen in a very long time. We are now consistently exporting goods and services more than we are importing. Our balance of payment has improved drastically, and that’s good for the economy. In the oil sector, we have seen a dramatic increase in the country’s oil output.
“The agriculture sector was also highlighted; members noted that we are witnessing a surge in that sector when we see more improvement in food productivity, which has now started to cause prices to fall. Therefore, members expressed much satisfaction with our progress under this president’s leadership. In the area of security, it was also highlighted that security across the board has improved remarkably. Several of our speakers paid tribute to members of our security forces who are fighting daily, laying their lives down so that we all can sleep well.
“As a result of all these improvements in all the sectors… members highlighted that we are witnessing a tranquil revolution in our country. As a result, members of our National Executive Committee today doubled down on the vote of confidence passed on Mr President yesterday at the National Caucus meeting.”
The APC spokesperson dismissed insinuations that the absence of some party leaders was ill-intentioned, saying, “As far as I know, I have never known the caucus meeting of our party or the NEC meeting of our party to be attended 100 per cent by all of the members of the NEC or Caucus. And I’m not sure there’s any political party where that attains 100 per cent attendance at meetings.”
In his opening remarks, President Tinubu thanked the party leaders and members for supporting his administration, saying the government’s reforms were already yielding results.
He called for the setting up reconciliation committees in various states to liaise with those aggrieved leaders, and appealed to them to be calm.
“I have heard your various remarks on how we have strengthened the security of our sovereignty and food security in the country. I am grateful to all Nigerians for our electoral successes from one state to another, and I am also happy about the various people joining us in the National Assembly.
“On the economy, I am happy the food prices are decreasing, particularly during Ramadan. I thank the leadership of our party. 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.”
The president praised the party’s National Working Committee for ‘doing a good job’.
For his part, the APC national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, said his administration inherited N8.987 billion in legal liabilities, which ranged from legal engagements during pre-election matters to election cases and appeals for legislative, governorship, and presidential elections.
Ganduje requested a new national secretariat building to conveniently accommodate national officers, the newly established Progressive Institute, and the party’s three wings.
He disclosed that the party had formally applied for land at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and asked the President to intervene so that the project could materialise.
“Another promise we are fulfilling is improving the Party’s membership base. Today, we have in our fold the former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, who led prominent politicians from other political parties to join us; notably among them are Former Labour Party governorship candidate in Ebonyi state, Edwin Nkwegu, Senator Obinna Ogba, Senator Uche Ekwunife from Anambra State, and thousands of their supporters.
…We will work harder – Tinubu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed his determination to work harder for the country’s greater good and asserted that the Nigerian economy was recovering.
The president spoke in Abuja a the APC National Executive Committee meeting, during which he received a vote of confidence for his administration’s good performance.
In a statement on Wednesday by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said the commendation from the party’s highest decision-making organ was a call for more work and promised not to fail the party faithful.
“I am happy with your vote of confidence, and I accept it. The vote is a challenge to do more work; we will vigorously pursue our sovereignty in food security, investment and development.
“I am happy with food prices decreasing, especially as Ramadan approaches. The Sun is high, and the sky is bright outside. While the rest of the world unravels, we see growth in Nigeria. We are seeing a gradual return to stability. We are seeing improvements. I thank you, governors, ” President Tinubu said.
President Tinubu thanked Nigerians for their continued belief and trust in the APC.
He pledged to continue working assiduously with other arms of government to ensure the greater good for Nigerians and commended APC governors and executives for their continued and unwavering commitment.
“I’m grateful to all Nigerians for the electoral successes recorded from one state to the other. Governors, you have embraced these changes, and I thank the leadership of our party. I also thank members of the National Assembly for expeditiously considering the budget.
“We can only build the party on a progressive platform to deliver good service to Nigerians.”
The President also commended the party’s National Working Committee for its performance and called for measures to end some of the crises in the states.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, reiterated the National Assembly’s commitment to supporting President Tinubu in lifting the nation from its economic and developmental woes.
“The Senate will expeditiously pass bills that would enhance our national development, improve the economy and redirect our national pathway,” he said.
Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas commended the President for his vision and courage in making unpopular but essential decisions.
He said the decisions were pivotal for Nigeria’s developmental efforts.
The APC National Executive Council meeting took place a day after the party’s caucus meeting on Tuesday night. At the Caucus meeting, party leaders also praised President Tinubu’s administration for turning the economy around, with GDP growing by 3.84 per cent in the last quarter of 2024 and inflation going downhill.
2027: Amaechi Keeps Mum Over APC’s Endorsement of Tinubu
Former minister of transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, has refused to comment on the decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) national working committee (NWC) to endorse President Bola Tinubu for a second term in office.
The former minister was a presidential aspirant on the APC platform, but lost to Tinubu during the party presidential convention in Abuja in 2023.
In response to a WhatsApp message sent to him by LEADERSHIP, Amaechi, who is also a former governor of Rivers State, said: “I have no comment.”
But the Chief Tony Okocha-led APC in the state described the endorsement of Tinubu for a second term as a welcome development.
Speaking with LEADERSHIP in Port Harcourt, the party’s spokesman, Hon. Chibuike Ikenga, said a second term would allow the president to complete all the good projects and policies he had started.
We are monitoring the situation – Ortom-led G5
The group of PDP leaders named the G5, led by former governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, will monitor the situation following APC’s endorsement of Tinubu for a second term, a source within the group told LEADERSHIP yesterday.
The source, who pleaded not to be named, said the group will make its position known in “due course,’’ despite its declaration of support for Tinubu in early 2024.
“They will monitor the situation to see how things will play out. But they will not make any comments on the issue yet.”
In January 2024, former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom revealed that the G5 camp within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) intended to endorse President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
He stated this at a luncheon hosted by the Federal Capital Territory’s minister, Nyesom Wike, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Joined by Wike and another G5 member, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Ortom reaffirmed the group’s support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 polls.
We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →
Join Our WhatsApp Channel
