Prominent leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including former President Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and other
party’s topnotch members, were conspicuously absent at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the ruling party on Wednesday.
Others who did not attend the well-publicised NEC meeting, which was held at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, included former Governors Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; former Senate President Ahmed Lawan, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, and host of others.
However, President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, were all present.
Others present included Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, former deputy Senate president, Ovie Omo-Agege, principal officers of the National Assembly, and Ministers.
Governors in attendance included those of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo; Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Benue State; Hyacinth Alia, Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji; Kaduna, Musa Sani, Nasarawa State, Abdulahi Sule, Yobe, Mai Mala Buni; Kogi State, Usman Ododo; Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun; Niger State, Mohammed Umar Bago,and Jigawa State, Umar Namadi, among others.
The former governors in attendance were from Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, his Kebbi State counterpart and Minister of Budget and National Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, Zamfara State, Bello Mattawalle, among others.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu got the endorsement of the NEC members to run for a second term in office at the 2027 general election as the chants of “no vacancy at Aso Rock” rented the air in the makeshift NEC hall.
Also, the chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma, moved the motion to pass a vote of confidence on the president and it was seconded by former Edo State governor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole.
In his opening remarks, President Tinubu thanked the party leaders and members for their support to his administration, saying the government’s reforms were already yielding results.
He called for the setting up of 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 the electoral successes that we have from one state to another and I am also happy for the various people joining us in the National Assembly.
“On the economy, I am happy the food prices are going down particularly during this Ramadan period. 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.
“Everywhere in the world, especially in Europe, we have economic shocks and we are doing everything possible. 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 Minister 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 these 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 told the NEC members.
For his part, the APC national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, said his administration inherited a whooping sum of N8.987 billion legal liabilities which ranged from legal engagements during the pre-election matters, election cases and appeals for legislative, governorship and presidential elections.
Ganduje requested for a new national secretariat building that would conveniently accommodate national officers, the newly established Progressive Institute as well as the three wings of the party.
“As part of the commitment to secure and own a national secretariat complex befitting of a 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, we 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.
“Another promise we are fulfilling is the improvement of membership base of the party. 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.
“Also, Your Excellencies, a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed for the formal engagement of Tunmef Global Limited for this exercise. The event was witnessed by some members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum led by the chairman, Senator Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and some members of the APC Chairmen Forum led by their leader, Hon. Cornelius Oyefola Ojelabi, at the Party Secretariat,” he added.
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