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From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The much-awaited National Caucus and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were finally held, for the second successive time, at the Banquet Hall of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, peacefully, last week.
Expectedly, unlike the cantankerous nature of similar meetings organised by the opposition political parties, especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where court orders and counter court orders flew ceaselessly, the APC Caucus and NEC meetings were held with fanfare, in a carnival-like atmosphere, and under a very placid, serene, and soothing atmosphere devoid of any form of antagonism.
Although the meetings were very crucial, the outcome was an anti-climax for a gathering whose lead-up was clearly laced with trepidation and heightened anxiety, particularly over the future of the national officers of the party.
Recall that a few weeks and even days before the meetings, there was an apparent uncertainty over the future of the members of the ruling party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
Daily Sun can report that before the meetings, the party officials, from the national secretariat to the wards, local governments, state, and the zonal levels, spiritually and physically, were actually in a state of palpitation and clearly wrapped in utmost uncertainty and trepidation to participate in the Caucus and NEC meetings.
The speculations that the NWC might be dissolved had gained so much traction to the point that some members of the national leadership had even allegedly started evacuating their personal belongings secretly from their offices, in anticipation of a worst-case scenario of an impromptu dissolution.
Their action to tread the path of caution is understandable because it is becoming a tradition and the style of the APC to abruptly end the reign of members of the NWC, especially since President Bola Tinubu took full control of the running of the ruling party.
Therefore, the preparation which included the postponement of the meetings once obviously intensified the apprehension.
Some cases in point include the major shake-up the ruling party experienced before the inaugural Caucus and NEC meetings shortly after President Tinubu took charge, when erstwhile National Chairman and National Secretary, Senators Abdullahi Adamu and Iyiola Omisore, were surprisingly shoved aside, over a speculated reason of lack of loyalty to the president.
They were immediately replaced by the duo of the former governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and Senator Ajibola Basiru as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.
Again, shortly after another Caucus and NEC meetings, the first of its kind to be held at the Aso Rock Villa, the party recorded another casualty when the National Chairman, Ganduje, was unceremoniously shoved aside after spending just two years on the saddle and immediately substituted by the incumbent party’s boss, Prof Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda.
The intense speculation that the NWC will be dissolved over a perceived lack of loyalty and new members appointed, perhaps in the capacity of Caretaker Committee, to prosecute the remaining sensitive parts of the build-up of timetable and activities for the 2027 presidential election.
In the perception of many party stakeholders, the increasing belief that some disloyal NWC members are planning to deceptively sabotage President Tinubu’s re-election, did not only heightened the speculations about their uncertain future but also necessitated the need to reshuffle and replace some with obviously loyal party members.
Interestingly, all those apprehensive moments died naturally when the participating members surprisingly smiled out of the Aso Rock Villa, venue of the meeting, joyfully at the end of both meetings.
And, instead of the expected sad news of dissolution, it was such a convivial, pleasant outcome with long list of very important stakeholders on the protocol list of attendees.
Remarkably, virtually all the stakeholders expected to be legally part of the meeting, including the former Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, who was attending such high-level party meeting, perhaps for the first time since he left office and surprisingly the former governor of Anambra State, Dr Chris Ngige, who seems to have called off his self-imposed sabbatical leave from politics, for obvious reasons, were in attendance.
From President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, past party leaders and chieftains like Bisi Akande, the current NWC members led by Yilwatda, the principal officers of both chambers of the National Assembly, almost all the 28 state governors on the platform of the party, led by the chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Hope Uzodimma, and his Nigeria Governors Forum counterpart, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, attended.
Newly defected governors like Peter Mbah (Enugu), Sim Fubara (Rivers), Umo Eno (Akwa-Ibom), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Agbu Kefas (Taraba), and Douye Diri (Bayelsa) also added colours to the attendance list during the meetings.
Other governors in attendance were Monday Okpebholo (Edo), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Usman Ododo (Kogi), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Ahmed Aliyu (Sokoto), Mai-Mala Buni (Yobe), Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Bassey Otu (Cross River), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Uba Sani (Kaduna), Dikko Radda (Katsina), and Malam Umar Namadi (Jigawa).
Several other party elders and former public office holders that were part of the meeting included; former Ogun State governor, Chief Segun Osoba; his Osun, Cross River, Taraba, Delta, Edo, Niger, Ogun, Ekiti, Zamfara States counterparts, Adegboyega Oyetola, Prof. Ben Ayade, Jolly Nyame, and Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Adams Oshiomhole; former Niger State Governor, Abubakar Bello; former Ogun, Ekiti, Bauchi and Kogi State governor, Ibikunle Amosun; Niyi Adebayo; Isa Yuguda, and Yahaya Bello.
Also, former Senate Presidents Ken Nnamani and Anyim Pius Anyim; former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege; Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Brig-Gen. Buba Marwa was equally in attendance.
The meetings, marked with significant milestones as the first time the newly elected party’s boss, Yilwatda, presided over such a high-level party session, were actually a gathering of who’s who in the party.
And perhaps, as agreed during the Caucus meeting on Thursday night, motion after motion during NEC meeting, moved and seconded by the members, did not only reduce the tension and nervousness but also painted clearer picture that contrary to the speculated high casualty figures, the future of the ward, local government, state and national leadership of the party was secured and guaranteed.
The motions, read: “that NEC approves the timetable contained in the schedule of activities and timetable attached to this motion: for the commencement and conclusion of the membership e-registration exercise, for the conduct of ward, local government, state, and zonal congresses for the election of Executive Committees at those levels, for the organisation of the National Convention for the election of national officers, and other associated matters.”
“Provided that the NWC shall exclude any state from the application of the timetable as relates to the conduct of ward, local government, and state congresses in appropriate cases.”
The NWC members may have heaved a sigh of relief after surviving the alleged dissolution. Still, the biggest takeaway concerning their future is that their fate will ultimately be decided on the approved updated timetable and schedule of activities for the inevitable elective convention, which is already scheduled for March next year.
According to the already approved and released comprehensive timetable for the process of disengagement and perhaps termination of the tenure of the current national leadership, it starts with membership re-registration, purchase, and submission of nomination forms for the wards, local government, state, and zonal elective Congresses in February next year, culminating in the national convention fixed for March, next year.
And having rested the curiosity over the future of the national officers, speeches after speeches during the meetings, had brought cheering messages of hope to the party members from the grassroots to the national level.
First was the party’s national chairman, Yilwatda, who, though suffering from stage fright, dismissed and described the criticisms from the opposition parties as “shallow,” arguing that the party was gaining ground nationwide despite attacks.
“Our objectives remain to strengthen and galvanise the party structures at all levels, to enhance our structural and strategic preparedness ahead of the next election cycle. We are not deterred by the shallow criticism of the opposition.
“They have become increasingly uncomfortable with our deliberate and principled effort to build a truly pan-Nigerian political party rooted in progressive politics,” he boasted, insisting: “We have a commanding majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.”
“The surge in memberships underscored APC’s span of the Nigerian character. Notable among them are the governors of Bayelsa, Enugu, Taraba States, and the latest one, Rivers. We now have a well majority in the two chambers. The leadership of the National Assembly has somehow come out, mobilised and done a massive membership drive within them, and have converted—let me use the word converted—most of the National Assembly members to become APC members,” he said.
Reacting further, the party’s boss praised President Tinubu’s role in fostering “unity,” “leadership,” and “social cohesion” within the party, adding: “as at today, our commanding majority has helped in the National Assembly and has reflected in what is happening across the country in terms of people seeing APC every day as the most acceptable party in the nation.”
For other leaders of the ruling party, the Caucus and NEC meetings had provided the anticipated opportunities to expectedly and desirably pass an overwhelming vote of confidence on the performances of the president, regardless of whether he had deservedly performed well or not.
And in his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio had expectedly showered encomiums on President Tinubu over his decisive actions on national security and regional stability, welcoming a fresh wave of high-profile governors into the party’s fold.
“Mr President deserves commendations on his decisive actions on national security and regional stability. We should commend him for the release of over 100 children kidnapped very recently, and we pray to God to give him the ability and the enablement to release the remaining children to rejoin their families,” he prayed.
“We have also taken steps in the senate to take bold decisions aimed at deterring those who want to join banditry, one of which is ensuring that kidnapping joins the rank and file of terrorism, and therefore kidnappers will now face death sentence once the President assents to the new bill into law,” Akpabio stated, urging state governors to enforce capital punishments swiftly.
He sealed his address with a firm commitment to APC’s 2027 dominance, noting: “We assure of block vote come, 2027, for the party. I believe that at the end, altogether, this should result in both votes and victory for the party, the APC, come 2027.”
On his part, the meeting provided a perfect avenue for President Tinubu to read the riot act to the APC governors and their counterparts in the opposition parties, to embrace flexibility, push for State Police, and strict implementation of the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy.
“You have to navigate this country,” he charged the governors, adding, “whether we like it or not, you are in the leadership position that must yield and continue to promote, tolerate, and be flexible. You must get involved in whatever is happening in your various states, up to the local government level.”
While revealing recent high-level talks with US and European leaders, where he confidently pitched Nigeria’s security reforms, Tinubu explained: “I had a very long discussion with the US and European leaders. I was bragging to them that we will definitely pass a state police to improve security.
“They asked me if I am confident, and I said, yes. I have a party to depend on. I have a party that will make it happen. And if at this level we fail, God forbid, we will not fail, I think the reconciliation, the accommodation, the flexibility, is in your hands, all of you, and we are the majority. We are the leaders.”
On the recent Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy, Tinubu vehemently warned the governors on the practical implementation, stressing: “Let us equally look at the recent Supreme Court judgment. What can we do with it, and how well can we reposition our country and our party?
“To me, the local government’s autonomy is and must be effective. Let us give them. There is no autonomy without a funded mandate. We give them their money directly. That is the truth. That is the compliance of the Supreme Court. Take the leadership seriously,” he urged.
And, perhaps, in what looked like combining the vote of thanks and spotlighting Tinubu’s achievements since 2023, Governor Uzodimma, urged sustained momentum, noting: “We are delighted to have this National Caucus meeting to thank all the members, and to commend President Tinubu for the performances we have witnessed so far since 2023 when he assumed office as the president.
“We hail the bold and courageous policies that have recovered and improved the economy of our country. We want to encourage him to keep on this fight, particularly for declaring a state of emergency on the security architecture in Nigeria,” he said.
