El-Rufai Shuns APC Caucus, NEC Meetings As Party Dismisses Ganduje Ouster Rumours

As the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) prepared for its much-anticipated National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Wednesday, the party has firmly denied speculation that President Bola Tinubu may ask national chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, to step down.

The party’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, debunked the rumours in an interview, insisting that the meeting was purely routine and not an elective one.

“There is nothing like that. The NEC is a routine meeting and not an elective one. We have been trying to have it since September last year. But now, it is confirmed we will have a national caucus on Tuesday and an NEC on Wednesday,” Basiru clarified.

He further outlined the agenda for the gathering, which included discussing the party’s 2025 projects, reviewing financial statements in line with electoral laws, briefing members on the upcoming re-registration exercise, and providing updates on the recently established Progressive Institute—APC’s intellectual and ideological think tank.

Meanwhile, former Kaduna State governor and ex-Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasir El-Rufai, has confirmed that he will not be attending the NEC meeting. Speaking on Arise Television’s ‘PrimeTime’ show on Monday night, El-Rufai cited lack of proper notification as his reason for absence.

“Unfortunately, I will not be [at the NEC meeting]. I will be on my way back to Cairo, where I spend most of my time. I didn’t get adequate notice. The constitution of our party requires 21 days, I think, or 14 days’ notice for this kind of national organ meeting. I don’t think that notice has been given,” he stated.

He further explained, “If it has been, I have not received the invitation two weeks to three weeks ago. So I have my plans, and I’m leaving tomorrow. But many of my friends will attend, so I will not miss anything. I will get to know what was discussed.”

The upcoming NEC meeting will be Ganduje’s first since assuming leadership of the National Working Committee. His appointment, alongside that of Senator Basiru as National Secretary, was ratified at the last NEC meeting held on August 3, 2023, at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

The crucial gathering will be chaired by President Tinubu, with Vice President Kashim Shettima and former President Muhammadu Buhari expected to be in attendance. Also present will be Senate President Dr. Godswill Akpabio, past and present APC governors, former and serving Speakers of the House of Representatives, state party chairmen, the National Working Committee, and other key stakeholders.