APC NEC Endorses Tinubu for Second Term as Buhari, Osinbajo, and Other Key Figures Skip Meeting
Key members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including former President Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and other top party leaders, were notably absent at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the ruling party on Wednesday.
Other prominent figures who skipped the well-publicized meeting 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 several others.
Despite the absentees, President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives Speaker Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu were all in attendance.
Other attendees included Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume, former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, principal National Assembly officers, and several ministers.
Governors present included those from Edo, Ondo, Benue, Ekiti, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Yobe, Kogi, Ogun, Niger, and Jigawa States, along with former governors such as Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), and Bello Mattawalle (Zamfara).
During the meeting, Tinubu received the endorsement of the NEC to run for a second term in the 2027 general election, with chants of “no vacancy at Aso Rock” echoing through the room.
The motion to pass a vote of confidence in President Tinubu was moved by the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, and seconded by former Edo State Governor Senator Adams Oshiomhole.
In his address, President Tinubu expressed gratitude for the support from party leaders and members, highlighting the positive impact of his administration’s reforms. He called for the establishment of reconciliation committees in various states to address the concerns of aggrieved leaders and urged them to remain calm as the government works to resolve any issues.
“I appreciate the support of all Nigerians for the successes we’ve achieved so far. On food security, we are seeing improvements, especially with food prices dropping during this Ramadan period. The leadership of the party is doing a great job, and I am grateful for that. Let us set up reconciliatory committees to engage those who are dissatisfied, and I assure you, I will not let anyone down,” Tinubu stated.
On the party’s administration, APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje informed the meeting that the party inherited significant legal liabilities amounting to N8.987 billion, which resulted from pre-election cases and appeals. He also proposed a new national secretariat that would accommodate the party’s growing needs.
“As part of our commitment to securing a proper national secretariat, we have formally applied for land at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). I seek the intervention of Mr. President to bring this project to fruition,” Ganduje said.
Additionally, Ganduje highlighted the growth of the party’s membership base, noting the arrival of several prominent political figures, including former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim and former Labour Party gubernatorial candidate in Ebonyi State, Edwin Nkwegu, who joined the APC with thousands of their supporters.
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