The All Progressives Congress (APC) held its much-anticipated National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Wednesday, marking the first since the appointment of Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje as the party’s National Chairman on August 3, 2023. The meeting, which took place at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, was attended by key stakeholders, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, governors, and members of the National Working Committee (NWC).
A significant highlight of the meeting was the validation of Ganduje’s position as the party’s National Chairman, putting to rest speculations of his resignation. This decision followed months of agitation by the North-Central APC Forum, which had previously demanded the return of the chairmanship position to their region. The forum recently suspended its agitation, signaling a step toward internal reconciliation.
In a show of unity, the NEC unanimously passed a vote of confidence in President Tinubu’s leadership and his administration’s economic policies. The President, in his remarks, expressed gratitude for the support, pledging to intensify efforts toward food security, economic growth, and national development. He described the vote of confidence as a challenge to work harder, assuring that his administration would vigorously pursue its goals to improve the nation’s economy.
Acknowledging internal disputes within state chapters, the President called for committees to be set up to address grievances and foster peace among party members. APC Chairman Ganduje echoed this stance, revealing that the party had initiated high-level reconciliation talks, which were already yielding positive results.
Ganduje appealed to the President for support in acquiring land for a new APC national secretariat, describing the current facility as inadequate for the party’s status. In response, President Tinubu pledged to intervene and ensure the project materializes.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas reassured the President of the National Assembly’s commitment to passing bills that would promote national development and economic recovery.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari was notably absent from the meeting. His spokesperson, Garba Shehu, attributed the absence to a late invitation, reaffirming Buhari’s continued loyalty to the party.