Tinubu Meets APC Govs, Party Moves NEC to Villa, Dalori May Stay on as Acting Chair

DejiElumoyeand AAdedayoAkinwale in Abuja

President Bola Ahmed, last night, met with the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors under the aegis of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), ahead of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party today.

This was as the leadership of the APC, has moved the venue of its NEC meeting to the presidential Villa as against its national secretariat.

However, barring any  last minute change, sources claimed that the acting National Chairman of the APC, Ali Dalori, might be asked to stay on in his position, pending when new members of the National Working Committee (NWC) would be elected at their next national convention.

At the meeting between the president and the governors, which took place at the Conference hall of the State House in Abuja, were 22 APC governors, while the governors of Katsina and AkwaIbom States were represented by their deputies.

Addressing newsmen after the closed-door meeting, Chairman of the PGF and Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, said the governors used the opportunity to formally condole with President Tinubu over the recent passing of his predecessor, President MuhammaduBuhari.

He also stated that the discussion revolved around strategies to fortify the APC across all levels.

His words: “We came as a group to formally condole the passing of the former President MuhammaduBuhari and also to discuss the upcoming National Executive Committee meeting of our party tomorrow.”

He said the meeting was also an avenue to engage in a “convivial discussion” with the President on how to better reposition the party and deepen its grassroots support.

“We also shared 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. It was just a convivial discussion with Mr. President towards strengthening our party and to be able to help serve Nigeria better,” he said.

On whether today’s NEC would produce a consensus on the choice of a new national chairman for the party, Uzodinma was non-committal, saying the outcome would become clear after the meeting.

“It is a National Executive Committee meeting; we cannot say what the outcome will be. When you come there tomorrow, you will see it,” he said.

Nevertheless, the APC leadership has moved the venue of its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to the presidential Villa as against its national secretariat.

Far-reaching decisions are expected to be taken on the position of the National Chairman of the party.

Dr. AbdullahiGanduje resigned as national chairman on June 27, paving the way for the Deputy National Chairman (North), Ali Dalori, to assume office in an acting capacity.

However, as of Tuesday, preparations were already ongoing at the national secretariat of the party to host the decisive NEC meeting before the sudden change of venue.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Felix Morka, confirmed the change of venue in a statement yesterday.

He said: “The All Progressives Congress (APC) announces that the meeting of the Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) scheduled to be held on Thursday, 24th July, 2025, will now take place as follows:

“Venue: Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, Time: 2pm. 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.”

Investigation revealed that while the main agenda of the meeting remained the issue of the national chairman of the party, the deafening silence from the Villa as to whom President Bola Tinubu would favour for the position as created apprehension amongst the members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party whose face also hangs in the balance.

While the former of Nasarawa state, Senator Tanko Al-Makura was being considered a top contender for the position, there were indications that the presidency might settle for a Christian this time around.

The consideration might, however, leave the ruling party with limited options with former Governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye and former national chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, Barnabas Germade as contenders.

Although speculations about the trio remained rife, the leadership of the party and stakeholders were at sea about what the decision of the president would be.

But there is another school that claimed Dalori might be asked to stay on as the acting national chairman of APC pending when new members of the National Working Committee (NWC) would be elected at their convention.

The members of the NWC have been kept in suspense by President Bola Tinubu ahead of the NEC meeting to take a stand on the vacant position of the national chairman of the party.

A presidency source, however, said Dalori might be asked to continue in acting capacity until the forthcoming convention where new NWC members would be elected.

“The acting chairman might stay as chairman until convention when new NWC members will be elected,” the source said.

Asked when the ruling party would hold its convention, the source added, “It’s  likely to be in December.”