President Bola Tinubu appealed to aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress to remain calm and promised not to let them down during the party’s long-awaited National Executive Committee meeting held on Wednesday at the Buhari House APC national secretariat in Abuja.
However, the absence of several top leaders, including former President Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and former governors Nasir el-Rufai and Rotimi Amaechi, sparked discussions about internal party dynamics.
The NEC meeting, the first since President Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023, and Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje was appointed chairman following the resignation of Abdullahi Adamu, aimed to address key issues within the party. Despite the absence of some prominent figures, the meeting was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and Minister of Budget and National Planning Abubakar Bagudu.
Governors present included Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Monday Okpebholo (Edo), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Uba Sani (Kaduna), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Usman Ododo (Kogi), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Mohammed Bago (Niger), Hope Uzodimma (Imo), and the deputy governor of Ebonyi State. Former governors in attendance included Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Bello Matawalle (Zamfara), and Simon Lalong (Plateau).
In his address, President Tinubu expressed satisfaction with the party’s electoral successes and the gradual improvement in the economy, particularly the reduction in food prices ahead of Ramadan. He also approved the establishment of reconciliation committees in all states to address grievances within the party.
Tinubu said: “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 we have recorded 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 food prices are going down, particularly during this Ramadan period. 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 to address them.”
He also acknowledged the need for a larger party secretariat, stating: “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 Planning is here, we will discuss with the minister in charge and we will do something about it. The National Working Committee, NWC, 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.”
APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje highlighted the party’s achievements over the past year and a half, emphasizing its focus on winning the upcoming governorship elections in Anambra and Osun states.
He said: “Our focus is now on Anambra and Osun states, and in compliance with the time-table released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the party has already begun preparations in earnest for the conduct of primary elections in Anambra scheduled for April. 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 among party leaders and other stakeholders, with a view to resolving lingering differences among our members. The conflict reconciliation committee which you are about to approve will build on this.”
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State moved a motion for a vote of confidence in Ganduje and the NWC, which was seconded by former national chairman Senator Adams Oshiomhole.
Ganduje revealed that the party inherited debts and legal liabilities totaling N8.98 billion from pre-election, election, and post-election cases. He appealed to the NEC for intervention to address the financial burden.
He also announced plans to relocate the party’s national secretariat, stating: “As part of our commitment to secure and own a national secretariat complex befitting of a ruling party and one that will conveniently accommodate our national officers, the newly established Progressives Institute as well as the three wings of the party, we have formally applied for a land at Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, to drive this project. May I, therefore, appeal for the kind intervention of Mr. President for this project to materialize.”
At a post-event briefing, APC spokesman Felix Morka downplayed concerns about the absence of some NEC members, stating that 100% attendance was unrealistic.
He said: “As far as I know, I have never known a caucus meeting or NEC meeting of our party to be attended one hundred per cent by all the members, and I am not sure there is really any political party where you have 100 per cent attendance at such meetings. Be rest assured that every member of the caucus and NEC was invited. The list of members today was comprehensive. As a matter of fact, we enlarged the list for the meeting today. We had more members invited than we did previously.”
Morka also criticized former Kaduna State governor Nasir el-Rufai for his recent comments about the party, urging him to maintain the dignity of his status.
He said: “All organs of the party are working. On what the former governor of Kaduna State said, there is a difference between party men and people who speak because they have a grievance. Grievance-driven commentaries are not to be taken seriously. It was clear from all the comments that the former governor has an axe to grind. Men who are respected must also continue to justify the respect they get. It is not a good idea that once you are dissatisfied, especially when it comes to personal experiences, then you want to discuss your personal grievance on the system of a political party. El-Rufai is just one person. Yes, he is a former minister and former governor, he has been up there, but at the end of the day, he is just one person in the party’s scheme. He is a highly respected citizen, but my advice and counsel to him is that he needs to speak in a manner that is befitting of his status. Otherwise, if he continues to engage, people have a right to reply.”
The NEC meeting concluded with a renewed focus on reconciliation, electoral victories, and addressing the party’s financial and infrastructural challenges.
