The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has passed a vote of absolute confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, citing his administration’s unprecedented economic successes.
The party’s highest decision-making body also resolved the controversy over the office of the National Chairman, zoning it to the North West, thereby ending agitation from members in the North Central region.
Additionally, the NEC affirmed confidence in the National Working Committee (NWC), led by Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, as well as the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF).
The meeting, the second under Tinubu’s leadership and the first since Ganduje assumed office, was attended by top party leaders across various structures.
As President Tinubu arrived at the venue, chants of “On your mandate we stand” and “No vacancy in the Villa” echoed through the hall.
In his speech, an elated President Tinubu commended Ganduje’s leadership and urged the NWC to form reconciliation committees to engage aggrieved party leaders and members.
According to the President, “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 National Working Committee is doing a good job and I am happy with them. I am very happy and I promise not to let any of you down.”
Appealing for calm from aggrieved party members, the President advised the NWC to set up reconciliatory committees in all states and liaise with the aggrieved leaders.
Earlier PGF Chairman, Sen. Hope Uzodinma while highlighting the accomplishments recorded under the leadership of President Tinubu in the area of infrastructure development, remarkable improvement of security, improved foreign exchange, improvement in food production and the recently launched students loan scheme moved a motion for the passage of vote of confidence on President Tinubu.
According to the Imo State governor, “if a dancer dances well, the best thing to do is to encourage him by supporting and clapping for him to enable him dance more and do it better.
“I Senator Hope Uzodinma, governor of Imo State move the motion to pass a vote of absolute confidence on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to enable him continue his good works”
Former National Chairman and governor of Edo State, Sen. Adams Oshiomole who seconded the vote of confidence motion, spoke glowingly of Tinubu’s performance, adding that the President’s chances for the second term would be guaranteed with support from the vast majority of Nigerians.
The motion later received unanimous endorsement of all the NEC members.
Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio in his remarks moved motion to endorse the party National Chairman, Ganduje and the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
The Chairman of the 10th National Assembly also urged NEC to appreciate the commendable efforts of APC elected governors in their various states.
The meeting also unanimously ratified Akpabio’s motion and commended both the NWC and PGF.
In the course of the meeting which lasted for 2 hours 26 minutes, the NEC approved a motion to expand and co-opt more members into the highest decision making committee – NEC. To this end a seven-man committee be headed by the party’s former National Caretaker Committee Chairman and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, was approved to undertake the exercise.
NEC also approved the Audited financial statements of the Party for the years 2022 and 2023, ratified the Party’s 2024 budget and approved the Party’s 2025 budget.
Earlier while giving the account of his stewardship, APC National Chairman, Ganduje said the party recorded some victories in off-cycle elections in Kogi, Edo and Ondo States, but lost in Bayelsa state.
He further said that the increase recorded in party membership as more opposition members are defecting to the ruling party in large droves.
Ganduje also hinted on the efforts to digitise the membership register of the party was recently kick started by introducing e-registration to ensure a verifiable membership strength of the party.
The chairman also intimated NEC members of the establishment of The Progressive Institute (TPI) to serve as the think-tank organ of the party.
He however said that the NWC under his leadership inherited debts to the total sum of N8,987,874,663 when he came on board.
The Chairman appealed for the intervention of NEC as some of the party’s bank accounts are still being garnised.
According to Ganduje, ” the current NWC inherited debts and legal liabilities to the total tune of N8,987,874,663 from all the cases outlined above, ranging from legal engagements during the pre-election matters, election cases and appeals for legislative, governorship and presidential elections.”
The Chairman however said that the National Legal Adviser, Prof. Abdul Kareem Kana SAN has been making efforts towards reducing the debt burden through dialogue and other alternative dispute resolution mechanism.
The chairman also stressed the need for a befitting new National Secretariat for the party. He informed the meeting that the administrative organ of the party has applied for land at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA)
The motion for adjournment indefinitely was later moved by Sen. Patrick Ndubeze and seconded by Governor Umar Namadi at 2:26 pm.
Those in attendance at the NEC meeting includes, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shetimma, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives – Tajudeen Abbas, National Chairman of the party, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and founding National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande.
The Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) led by its Chairman and Imo State governor, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, Benue State- Rev. Father Hyacinth Alia, Edo State – Sen. Monday Okpebholo, Ondo State – Lucky Ayiedatiwa, Ekiti State – Biodun Oyebanji, Kaduna State – Uba Sani, Jigawa State – Usman Namadi, Nasarawa State – Abdullahi Sule, Yobe State – Mai Mala Buni, Niger State – Mohammed Umar Bago, Lagos State – Babajide Sanwoolu, Kogi State – Usman Ododo, Ogun State – Dapo Abiodun, Imo State – Hope Uzodinma, Kwara State – AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, Deputy Governor Eboyin State – Patricia Obila Oyinemachi
Other prominent leaders at the meeting are Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, Deputy Senate President, Sen. Jibrin Barau and Minister of Defence, Alhaji Bello Matawalle.
Others were former governor of Zamfara state, Sen. Abdulaziz Yari, former governor of Kebbi state and Minister of Budget and National Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu
Also in attendance were former Deputy Senate President, Omo Agege, former governor of Niger State, Sen. Abubakar Sani Bello, former governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, former governor of Plateau State, Sen. Simon Lalong
However prominent members of the party that were absent at the 13th NEC meeting of the party included former President Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Ekiti state governor, Kayode Fayemi, former Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, former Kastina state governor Rt. Hon Bello Masari and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.