A high-stakes, closed-door meeting involving governors elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC) was held on Wednesday at the Abuja lodge of Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, sparking speculation ahead of Thursday’s crucial National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party.
Uzodimma, who currently chairs the Progressive Governors’ Forum, convened the gathering as internal consultations heat up over the replacement of the party’s former National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, who stepped down in June citing personal health concerns.
While the official agenda remains under wraps, top sources within the party hint that the leadership vacuum created by Ganduje’s exit and the upcoming by-elections in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun have made the choice of a new national chairman an urgent priority.
Among early arrivals at the meeting were prominent party heavyweights including Governors Babagana Zulum (Borno), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Monday Okpebholo (Edo), and Usman Ododo (Kogi). Also present were Governors Nasir Idris (Kebbi), Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Senator Uba Sani (Kaduna), and Bassey Otu (Cross River). Interestingly, Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori—an opposition PDP governor—was also sighted, raising eyebrows.
Acting National Chairman, Ali Bukar Dalori, is expected to present a roadmap for congresses, updates on e-registration across the 36 states, and possible restructuring of standing committees at the NEC meeting.
However, fierce lobbying is underway over the geopolitical zoning of the party’s top seat. While some leaders insist the position remain in the North-West—where Ganduje hails from—others are advocating for a return to the North-Central zone, where it was originally situated prior to the controversial 2022 adjustment.
The zoning debate has been further complicated by rumors that former Kano Governor and NNPP leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is being quietly courted by certain APC factions—a move that could dramatically reshape the party’s internal dynamics.
With the NEC session less than 24 hours away, Wednesday’s meeting could prove pivotal in determining not only the next face of APC’s leadership but also the direction of the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
More details to follow as the story develops…
Ismail Abdulazeez Mantu