APC passes vote of confidence on Tinubu, Ganduje at NEC meeting

…as Buhari, El’Rufai, Osinbajo, Amaechi, Fagbemi others shun meeting

By Tom Okpe

Leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC has passed a vote of confidence on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, boosting his chances for his second term in office, come 2027.

Also, National Chairman of the Party, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje received the same accolades for the highest feet he attained by holding the Party together and reconciling aggrieved, members.

This was as the ruling Party, held its National Executive Committee, NEC, meetings on Wednesday at the Party National Secretariat, Buhari House, Abuja, shunned by notable founding members of the Party including former President, Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice, Yemi Osinbajo, former Kaduna State Governor, and his Ekiti counterparts, Nasir El’Rufai and Kayode Fayemi.

READ ALSO: Tinubu congratulates Aiyedatiwa on new term

Others are former Governor of River State and later Minister of Transport, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, former Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, Femi Gbajabiamila and a hosts of other Party heavyweights.

All these bigwigs are noted to be angry with the Party, one way or the other as reasons for their absence from the Party’s big event, indicated; while curiosity over their absence shows that, as statutory members of the Party’s NEC, they were expected to be in attendance.

Though no reason was given for their absence, it is however, expected and may not be unconnected with their hostile attacks on the party and the administration in recent times.

In his speech, President Tinubu said: “I have heard all 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 that we have 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 the food prices are going down particularly during this Ramadan period.

“I thank the leadership of our Party for making NEC, find a way to celebrate our progressive ideals. 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 normalize the situation here at home.

“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 Economic planning is here, we discuss with the Minster 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, please be calm. I am very happy, and I promise not to let any of you down.”

Presenting his speech, the party’s National Chairman, Ganduje requested for a new National Secretariat building.

He said the Party is committed to secure and own a National Secretariat complex befitting of a ruling Party and one that would conveniently, accommodate our National officers, the newly established Progressive Institute as well as the three wings of the party.

“We have formally, applied for a land at the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, that will drive this project. May I therefore appeal for the kind intervention of President Tinubu, for this project to materialise,” Ganduje pleaded.

“It has been a year and a half since I stood before you to accept the honour and responsibility, bestowed on me and my colleagues to lead this great Party, the APC.

“Though the journey, I must admit, has been very challenging to us as a ruling Party in view of the big task we have at hand and the expectation from Nigerians, however, we can sufficiently submit that we have collectively, risen to the occasion and challenges.
In order to have a full-fledged National Working Committee, NWC, and in line with the directives of National Executive.

“The Women, Youth and Persons With Disabilities, PWDs, Wings of the Party have attended quite a number of Local and international conferences, and also, organised a number of National and International seminars and workshops, relating to women and youth empowerment and entrepreneurship, climate change and other activities that will further enhance and build entrepreneur skills.”

Ganduje further stressed that, in fulfilment of our promise of taking the Party to the grassroots, the NWC introduced a new people-centred approach to campaign administration.

“Instead of the usual practice of inaugurating National campaign Governorship Councils for States in Abuja, the campaign councils are inaugurated in the affected States to allow for more and greater participation by Party members and other stakeholders in their respective States.

“This innovation has helped to engage the right people to organise and manage campaigns in their States for effective delivery before and during the election.

“As you are aware, we won Governorship elections in Imo, Kogi, Edo and Ondo, but unfortunately, lost in Bayelsa State. The details of the election results are contained in your folder.

“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 the primary elections in Anambra State, scheduled for April 5, 2025.”

On reconciliation: Ganduje said the Party, embarked on massive reconciliation of aggrieved Party members, and this move is gradually yielding desired positive results.

“Through dialogue, we have initiated high level discussions amongst party leaders and other stakeholders with a view to resolve lingering differences between our members.
The Conflict reconciliation Committee which you are about to approve will build on this,” he stated.

On membership drive, the Party National Chairman noted that another promise we are fulfilling is the improvement of membership base of the Party.

“Today, we have in our fold the former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim who led prominent politicians from other political parties to join us, notably among them are: Former Labour Party, LP, Governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, Edwin Nkwegu, Senator Obinna Ogba, Senator Uche Ekwunife from Anambra State, and thousands of their supporters.

“Also, a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, has been signed for the formal engagement of Tunmef Global Limited for this exercise. The event was witnessed by some members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, led by the Chairman, Senator Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and some members of the APC Chairmen Forum, led by their leader, Cornelius Oyefola Ojelabi, at the Party Secretariat.”

Our decision to establish an independent, self- sustaining global standard institute, which will serve as the official Think-Tank and intellectual Resource Centre of the Party, will indeed, facilitate training of Party members, promote ideal of good governance as well as institutionalize a progressive ideology, gave birth to the Progressive Institute.

“I am happy to say that after a thorough and rigorous process of registration with all relevant agencies, ranging from the Federal Ministry of Education, Federal Ministry of Justice, the National Board for Technical Education and the Corporate Affairs Commission, the institute is now duly
registered and recognized as a training institute by these agencies.

“Barely less than six months, the institute has organized an elaborate 3-day National Conference on ‘Vocational Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship and the Challenges of Development in Nigeria.’

“This is part of its contribution to Government policy efforts, in shaping the future of vocational skills acquisition in Nigeria and in implementing the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of President Tinubu.”

While briefing journalists after the meeting, National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Barr Fidelis Morka said, I have never known the caucus meeting of our party or the NEC meeting of our party to be attended 100% by all members of NEC or Caucus.

Serving Governor’s in attendance includes; Edo, Monday Okpebholo, Ondo, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Benue State, Hyacinth Iormem Alia, Ekiti, Biodun Oyebanji, Kaduna, Musa Sani, Nasarawa, Abdullahi Sule, Yobe, Mai Mala Buni, Kogi, Usman Ododo, Ogun Dapo Abiodun, Niger Mohammed Umar Bago amongst others.

Also, in attendance were former Governors including, Abdulaziz Yari, Zamfara State, his Kebbi counterpart and Minister of Budget and National Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Kogi, Yahaya Bello, Zamfara, Bello Mattawalle, and others.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu were also in attendance.

Former Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, and other principal officers of the National Assembly, Ministers, among others were there.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Speaker, House of Representatives, Rep Tajudeen Abbas equally took part in the meeting.