Who Succeeds Ganduje As APC NEC Meeting Holds Today?

Who Succeeds Ganduje As APC NEC Meeting Holds Today?

The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Executive Committee (NEC) meets today to deliberate on who succeeds the immediate national chairman of the party, Dr Abdullah Umar Ganduje, who was reported to have resigned on health ground.

The two-term governor of Kano state came on board August  2, 2023, following the resignation of his predecessor and  former Nasarawa state governor, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

The deputy national chairman (North), Ali Dalori, was immediately named the acting chairman to avoid any vacuum.

As the party’s national chairman, Ganduje contended with some APC elements, particularly from the North central, who felt the appointment ought to be made from the zone in line with political arrangement of fairness and justice.

The group named North Central APC Forum, lost its case at the Federal High Court, Abuja, as the presiding judge, Inyang Ekwo, agreed with the preliminary objection of one of the defendants, who wanted the suit struck out on the grounds that the claimant lacked the required locus standi to institute the suit.

…Tinubu, governors meet

Ahead of today’s meeting, Blueprint gathered that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was holding a meeting in the Villa Wednesday night, with the Hope Uzodinma-led Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), a body of 23 APC governors, to have a consensus on who  emerges the next national chairman  of the party.

The APC Wednesday announces that the meeting of its NEC would be held on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at the Banquet Hall of Presidential Villa in Abuja.

This was contained in a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka in Abuja.

“The change of venue from the Party’s National Secretariat – 40 Blantyre Street, Wuse II, Abuja to the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja is due to logistical reasons,” the statement said.

 …Choices before the party

Although it is not very clear on who the real contenders or pretenders are, it is however in the public space that a former Nasarawa state governor, Tanko Al-Makura, of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) wing of the APC, and a former national chairman of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Barnabas Gemade, have their eyes on the top job. Their backers and supporters have consistently drummed support for the duo, with none of them coming out with a counter position.

Also on the card, said a party source, “is a serving minister in a high-calibre ministry whose name we can’t disclose because this is still subject to Mr. President’s input.”  Asked if the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, was being pencilled down for the job, another source told Blueprint that “Yes, the SGF came out to say he was not aspiring, following a media report.

“But, again, that is not sufficient because the president will always determine where he wants him to serve. So, as for Akume, the coast is not too clear, because the president determines what to assign any party faithful. In this case, Akume can’t be an exception.”

…Will another governor emerge?

On whether the governors would have their way in getting a former governor the party’s top job, a presidency source said: “That is one aspect that the governors and the president are trying to critically look at the ongoing meeting at the Villa. If you look at the APC from its formation, it’s been a case one former governor or the other. Baba Bisi Akande, John Odigie Oyegun, Adams Oshiomhole, Abdullahi Adamu and of course, Ganduje. We hope to see if another former governor will emerge tomorrow at the end of the meeting.”

…PDP’s losses, APC’s gains

Meanwhile, the gale of defection in the National Assembly continued Wednesday with the number of the APC senators rising to 70, following the defection of four senators from the opposition PDP.

On the list are Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East), Oluwole Olubiyi (Osun Central), Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom North East), and Samson Ekong (Akwa Ibom South), all from the major opposition party.

Senate President Godwin Akpabio  read their resignation letters on the floor of  the Senate, and consequently directed the Clerk of the Senate to put the defection in the official record of the red chamber.

The move now leaves APC with 70 lawmakers, PDP 28, Labour Party 5, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) 1, Social Democratic Party (SDP) 2, and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) 1.00 / 0:00

At the Senate to witness the exercise were APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator Chris Ngige, and some members of the Green Chamber.

In his resignation letter, Bassey relied on Sections 40 and 68(1)(g) of the Nigerian Constitution, saying his defection  was a necessity.

“This decision has become imperative in view of the prevailing political developments both in my constituency and within the party structure, which has been fractured beyond redemption,” the lawmaker said.

In his remarks, Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom state, said: “Senator Anieka Abbasi has now joined the APC. I welcome him with open arms. He has depleted the rank and file of the left-hand side to populate the right-hand side.”

Source: Blueprint

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