President Bola Tinubu and All Progressives Congress governors met at the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday evening, as consultations intensified over the appointment of the party’s new national chairman.
Attended by members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), led by its chairman and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, the meeting, which held at the State House conference hall, began at about 7pm.
It was preparatory to the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, scheduled for 2pm, on Thursday at the Banquet Hall of the State House.
The main point on the agenda is the selection of a substantive national chairman to succeed Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who resigned last month amid mounting pressure from within the party.
As gathered by Leadership, the North Central geopolitical zone is poised to produce Ganduje’s replacement, with former Nasarawa State governor and founding APC chieftain, Senator Tanko Al-Makura, emerging as the frontrunner in ongoing internal consultations.
Party sources disclosed that President Tinubu is keen on building consensus around a candidate that reflects regional balance and loyalty to the party’s current reform agenda.
Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, PGF Chairman Uzodimma said the visit served a dual purpose: to formally condole with President Tinubu on the demise of former President Muhammadu Buhari and to strategise ahead of the NEC meeting.
Uzodimma explained further: “We also came to share some ideas with Mr. President on how best to strengthen our party at the grassroots, at the local government, at the state levels, up to the national level. So it’s just a convivial discussion with Mr. President towards strengthening our party and to be able to help serve Nigeria better.”
When asked if the NEC meeting would produce a consensus candidate for the national chairmanship, Uzodimma declined to speculate.
“It is a National Executive Committee meeting,” he said. “We cannot say what the outcome will be. When you come there tomorrow, you will see it.”
The APC, Nigeria’s ruling party, has experienced internal strains over the last year, particularly around questions of leadership legitimacy, zoning, and inclusion.
Party watchers view Thursday’s NEC meeting as critical to restoring cohesion and setting the tone for upcoming off-cycle elections.
