Tag: APC Governors

  • 2 APC Governors Visit Wike In Port Harcourt Amid PDP Crisis

    2 APC Governors Visit Wike In Port Harcourt Amid PDP Crisis

    Amid political permutations ahead of the 2023 general elections, two All Progressives Congress (APC) governors on Wednesday night visited Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

    The two APC governors – Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and his Cross River State counterpart, Ben Ayade; were accompanied by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State.

    Wike and Ikpeazu are power brokers in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The duo alongside three other PDP governors (Oyo, Enugu and Benue) have for months demanded the removal of PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu as a precondition to support the party’s Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

    On the other hand, Umahi dumped the PDP in November 2020 and joined the APC. He would later contest the APC presidential primary mid-2022 but lost to former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu.

    Similarly, Ayade left the PDP for the APC in May 2021 and jostled to be the ruling party’s flag bearer. However, like Umahi, he was trounced by Tinubu.

    Wike and Umahi were former allies before the latter’s move to the APC. The two engaged in war of words following the defection of the Ebonyi State governor to the APC.

    However, the former foes may have perfectly sealed their reconciliation as Umahi, for the third time within six months, on Wednesday night, visited Wike in Port Harcourt. He previously visited the Rivers governor in June and in August 2022.

    Though the details of Wednesday’s meeting were unknown as of press time as none of the four governors addressed journalists after the closed-door session, there are indications of a formidable political alliance ahead of next February’s presidential poll.

  • Governor Lalong, APC Presidential Candidate & APC Governors Meet Former President Jonathan

    Governor Lalong, APC Presidential Candidate & APC Governors Meet Former President Jonathan

    As consultations continue ahead of the campaigns for the 2023 General elections, APC Presidential Candidate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, his running mate Kashim Shettima and the Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council Governor Simon Bako Lalong on Tuesday 30th August 2022 met with former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan at his residence in Maitama.

    The meeting which held behind closed door was attended by some Governors of the APC who accompanied the Presidential Candidate and his team. 

    The details of the meeting were not disclosed.

    Earlier, the Candidate, his running mate, the Director General Simon Bako Lalong and other progressive Governors had met at the Tinubu Campaign Headquarters where they held strategic discussions behind closed doors.

    Thereafter, they met with APC Speakers of State Houses of Assembly to also startegise on efforts at galvanising the energy of the party across the country for the success of the party.

    Governor Lalong had also joined the Progressive Governors to visit President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House where they also paid a visit to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

  • APC Governors Meets Tinubu And Shettima In Lagos

    APC Governors Meets Tinubu And Shettima In Lagos

    At his residence in Lagos on Monday, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress’ presidential candidate for the general elections of 2023, met with a few governors from the party.

    Kassim Shettima, Tinubu’s running mate, was also present during the meeting.

    Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State, and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State were among the APC governors in attendance at the meeting.

    Although the aim of the meeting has not been made public, it might have something to do with getting ready for the 2023 presidential elections.

  • APC Governors Visit Buhari In Daura, back Shettima’s candidacy

    APC Governors Visit Buhari In Daura, back Shettima’s candidacy

    Governors of the All Progressives Congress on Monday paid a sallah homage to President Muhammadu Buhari at his residence in Daura.

    After a closed door meeting with the President, the Governors said they were pleased with Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s choice of Kassim Shettima as his running mate in the 2023 presidential election.

    The Governors described Shettima as one of Nigeria’s finest.

    The Governors who made the trip include Aminu Masari of Katsina, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, Abubakar Bello of Niger, Hope Uzodimma of Imo, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, Simon Lalong of Plateau and Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa.

    Speaking after the meeting, Bagudu said a Tinubu-Shettima presidency will complement all the achievements of the last seven years under president Muhammadu Buhari.

    Bagudu further revealed that the APC Governors Forum is working hard to win the upcoming Osun Governorship election.

    On his part, the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma described the choice of Shettima as a collective decision.

    He noted that the 22 governors of the APC will deliver 22 States in the upcoming 2023 general elections.

  • 2023: Choice Of Running Mate Lies With Tinubu, Not APC Governors – Uzodimma

    2023: Choice Of Running Mate Lies With Tinubu, Not APC Governors – Uzodimma

    Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma on Tuesday said the choice of picking a running mate for Bola Tinubu lies with the ex-Lagos governor, rather than Governors in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    On June 8, Tinubu emerged as the APC presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections after beating Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, ex-Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, and Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, among others.

    A week after the party’s presidential primary, Uzodimma, who was also the Chairman of the APC special convention, briefed reporters in Abuja after visiting President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “The decision to choose a running mate does not reside with any of us, the governors. It is the presidential candidate that will look at the local characteristics and every factor that will make him win the election,” he said.

    “There is nowhere in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria where religion is a factor as to who becomes the President or running mate.

    “We are looking for a united Nigeria where governance will be the issue, a President will be adjudged by his capacity to deliver democratic dividends.”

    According to him, the South-East is ripe to produce Nigeria’s next President for the sake of equity and justice.

    Despite the setback for the region, the governor pledged to work with Tinubu in the forthcoming election to ensure that the party retains power.

    Uzodimma further underscored that what is most fundamental is the aim for a united Nigeria where democratic governance is upheld, noting that the South-East zone will work on what has so far prevented it from attaining the goal of producing a President.

    Earlier, President Buhari had met with APC governors at the Council Chamber.

    Governors of Borno, Kaduna, Jigawa, Kebbi, Imo, Nasarawa, Kogi and Plateau States were present at the meeting.

  • Buhari, APC Governors Meet Ahead Of Presidential Primary

    Buhari, APC Governors Meet Ahead Of Presidential Primary

    President Muhammadu Buhari is currently holding a meeting with the 22 governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the much anticipated presidential primary election now scheduled to hold from Monday, 6th to Wednesday, 8th of June, 2022.

    In attendance at the meeting with governors operating under the aegis of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) is the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

    Only the governor of Kaduna State is being represented by his deputy at the meeting being held at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja.

    Reports gathered that the meeting was convened to discuss the forthcoming presidential primaries and the need to have a united position.

    The APC postponed its Special Convention for Presidential Primary from Sunday, 29th – Monday, 30th of May, 2022 to Monday, 6th – Wednesday, 8th of June, 2022 after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) extended deadline for the submission of list of candidates by political parties.

    The President is expected to leave later on Tuesday for Madrid, Spain for a two-day state visit to the European nation.

  • APC Convention: We support Buhari’s candidate for chairman ―  APC Govs

    APC Convention: We support Buhari’s candidate for chairman ― APC Govs

    Ahead of the March 26 National Convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, the governors of the party have declared their support for the candidate endorsed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    They stated this after a meeting with President Buhari, on Wednesday said they were in the process of consensus candidates.

    The governors were led to the meeting by the APC Caretaker Committee Chairman and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni.

    Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting with President Buhari, chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, said they will support any process that would lead to a consensus.

    Recall Buhari had last month said he was in favour of the consensus mode for selecting candidates for the party’s national positions.

    He had urged the governors to explore the option of consensus.

    He said, “Today, members of the Progressive Governors Forum were hosted by Mr President at a meeting to discuss what the governors have been doing in preparation for the March 26, National Convention.

    “We discussed and briefed him on what the governors have been doing in support of the March 26, 2022, National Convention, which is coming up in a few days. We restated our commitment to our unity and support for Mr President to acknowledge the progress made under the APC

    “Some of you may recall that last week there was a letter that was widely circulated in the media, addressed to me as the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and copied to a number of others, including the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, the acting Chairman of the Caretaker Committee and indeed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

    “That letter led to a series of actions, including meetings between the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee, Acting Chairman, Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State, as he was then, and myself.

    “We all restated our commitment to working together to ensure that the convention takes place on March 26, 2022, and then we agreed to support all the decisions that were taken by the Caretaker Committee, both acting as a working committee and acting with the donated powers given to it by the National Executive Committee.

    “Indeed, the Chairman of the Caretaker, upon his return, also appreciated what the Caretaker Committee did and the decisions that were taken in his absence.

    “Today we all briefed Mr. President on that, of course, included on that is the issue of distributing political party offices to the respective zones and our support for Mr President’s endorsement of the candidate for the National Chairman of the party.

    “And the various geo-political zones took turns to brief Mr President, on what they have been doing to generate consensus in their respective zones amongst the National Working Committee and zonal party positions that have been either allocated to the zones or which the zones are entitled to.

    “Most of the zones have been allocated National Working Committee positions that are fewer than the number of states, but however, there are zonal executive committees from which the zones are working to produce a consensus list.

    “So, this afternoon, the respective zones; Governor Abubakar Bello on behalf of the North-Central; His Excellency, Governor Babagana Zulum, on behalf of the Northeast; His Excellency, Governor Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State on behalf of Northwest; His Excellency, Governor Dave Umahi, on behalf of Southeast. Governor Kayode Fayemi briefed the President on the Southwest. I further mention the position of the South-South to Mr. President, as I had on paper.

    “So, Mr. President, appreciated the briefing and restated his gratitude for the work the governors have been doing in support for in support of the party and preparation for the National Convention. Thank you. Let me share my screen.”

    Asked what will happen to some of the aspirants that have not agreed on consensus, Governor Bagudu said that as a democratic party, nobody would be stopped from contesting.

    “Our party is a democratic party, we will always urge consensus, we’ll urge respect for the decisions of the party because the distribution of political party offices here has been approved by the highest organ of the party, which is the National Caretaker Committee, because they were acting in their capacity as the National Executive Committee of the party.

    “But where people still choose to go against the grain, whatever the party constitution allows them, because we wouldn’t do anything on undemocratic.

    “Mr. President has always urged consensus for all positions because consensus is in accordance with the democratic tenets and once you have leaders who are established, who are working towards the same goal, yes, we might have our individual differences, like was once carefully explained by Governor El-Rufa’i, but on the principle of ensuring that we get leadership that will hit the ground running, we are united, and to that extent, who will support any process that will lead to consensus and the emergence of leaders without the need for election.”

    Further asked whether there would be surprises at the convention, he said, “No, the governors are united.

    “The governors are unanimous in support of Mr President. The governors are unanimous in the support of the caretaker committee.

    “Naturally, there will be hiccups one day, but we have overcome them and we are a human organization, which is bound sometimes to generate emotions and anxiety, but we are united and unanimous and by God’s grace, we’ll have a very successful and peaceful National Convention. “

    However, one of the governors at the meeting said that no agreement had been reached on consensus.

    The governor, who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that discussions on consensus were ongoing.

  • Buhari Meets APC Govs ahead of National Convention

    Buhari Meets APC Govs ahead of National Convention

    Governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) say they are working towards the process to produce consensus candidates ahead of March 26th National Convention.

    The chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, said this Wednesday while fielding questions from State House reporters after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

    Bagudu, who said the APC governors would support any process that would lead to a consensus, urged his colleagues to explore the option.

    He said each governor presented the allocation of party positions at zonal level to President Buhari.

    The President had last month said he was in favour of the consensus option to produce candidates for the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) offices.

    The meeting was attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and 16 governors from Kebbi, Plateau, Kogi, Yobe, Ogun, Kaduna, Ekiti, Ebonyi, Imo, Niger, Jigawa, Kwara, Zamfara, Nasarawa, and Borno States.
    Details later…

  • National Convention: Buhari Meets With APC Governors In Abuja

    National Convention: Buhari Meets With APC Governors In Abuja

    President Muhammadu Buhari is currently meeting with the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors at the presidential villa in Abuja.

    The meeting is coming amid the rigmarole surrounding the national convention of the ruling party.

    The party has fixed its convention for March 26 while March 12 was earmarked as the date it will elect zonal officers across the six geo-political zones.

    The governors were meant to have met with the president before now, but the sit-down was delayed due to his trip to Brussels, Belgium, to attend the EU-AU summit.

    Issues surrounding the postponement of the party’s convention are expected to dominate the discourse at the meeting.

    The party had earlier fixed February 26 for the convention but a postponement was announced on Monday after some confusion on the date.

    John Akpanudoedehe, national secretary of the APC caretaker committee, had said zonal congresses would be held prior to the party’s convention.

    “After deliberations and agreement with the national caretaker committee, we have agreed and approved that the activities of the national convention commence from the 24th of February and terminate on the 26th of March,” Akpanudoedehe had said.

    “The convention activities will commence on February 24 and terminate at Eagle Square on 26th of March. In between the convention, we have agreed to have zonal congresses.”

    Stakeholders of the APC have been at loggerheads over the party’s national convention.

    Salihu Lukman, a former director-general of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), had said Mai Mala Buni, chairman of the caretaker committee, does not want the convention to hold.

    He accused the Yobe governor of working with some governors and “Yahoo Yahoo politicians” to prevent the convention from taking place.

    Meanwhile, Yekini Nabena, a chieftain of the party, called for patience and trust in Buni’s leadership.

    Nabena said some leaders of the party are sponsoring a “campaign of calumny” against Buni and his committee, adding that they “cannot be stampeded” to take any action that will “eventually work against the chances of the party in near future”.

  • APC National Convention: Buhari Postpones Meeting with Governors

    APC National Convention: Buhari Postpones Meeting with Governors

    President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, put off a meeting with governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, scheduled to hold at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Although the agenda of the meeting was not made public, sources at the State House said, it was not unconnected to the party’s national convention slated for February 26.

    It was gathered that some APC governors had arrived at the presidential villa, only to learn that the meeting would no longer take place.

    No official reason was given for the postponement but the president’s activities for the day had been scheduled to end earlier than usual as he was meant to depart for Belgium later same day for Europe-African Union Summit taking place in the country.

    It is not clear whether the cancellation was for time constraints and when the meeting may be rescheduled.

    The governors that were sighted in the villa were the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and Ekiti state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Simon Lalong (Plateau), Prof Ben Ayade (Cross River), Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Hope Uzodinma (Imo) and Yahaya Bello (Kogi).

    Also sighted were Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omon Agege and Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Ahmed Wase.

    It was further gathered that despite the cancellation of the meeting, the two principal officers of the National Assembly were able to have a session with the president.

    The Imo State governor, who was also able to have a separate session with the President on issues concerning the state while fielding questions from State House correspondents explained that there is nothing wrong if the APC decides to shift its national convention from the February 26 scheduled date.

    Asked to comment on what should be the fate of the party over its inability to agree on the zoning of offices and setting up convention subcommittees with less than two weeks to the date, Uzodimma explained: “Of course, that is the decision of the party and there is nothing wrong even if it doesn’t hold. What is important is that we must have our convention. We have said it is the 26th. If anything, for any reason tomorrow, it is not doable in the opinion of the party, we will move. But that does not mean that there is any intention to move.

    “We shouldn’t worry about little issues. I think our focus and attention should be towards having a workable democracy in Nigeria, like we have shown, supporting government policies and programmes and then being patriotic. Our democracy will do better if supported with the right attitude. You may not like my face, but the federal government is the federal government, the state government is the state government.

    “We should be able to exhibit a sense of nationalism and patriotism. We should be able to support a government that is in power. Today, the President, even though produced by APC, is President of all the political parties in Nigeria and the government of all the political parties in Nigeria.

    “This mentality of war, war, war, politics and democracy is not about war, it’s about ideology and the ability to sell your policy and the people will buy into it.

    “So, I’m confident that our party, contrary to the expectations in some quarters, will be stronger and stronger as we make progress and of course, in the nearest future, I’m very confident that APC will still be in power because the programmes are the party, the manifesto of the party, the individuals in the party, majority of the political class in Nigeria understands that APC is the party to beat and that is why they are joining day by day.”

    Governor Uzodimma dismissed the fears in some quarters over the national convention, saying that the APC being the ruling party has the wherewithal to deal with any issues that may arise.

    According to him, “Don’t forget that the APC is not a mushroom party, APC is a giant, it’s the largest party today in Africa and that is the party that other small parties should copy. Because small parties come to do zoning and all that does not mean their internal mechanism must be the same as that of APC.

    “APC is already the party on the ground that owns the federal government of Nigeria and up to 21 state governments. So, the discretion on how and when to do their convention should be an internal party affair and APC is the one wearing the shoe, with credible leadership, they know when to move and when not to move.

    “So, I think we should just watch because, under the constitution of APC, buying form is one thing. We have three modes that we can adopt to elect our officers; either by direct primaries, by indirect primaries or by consensus. What if APC has adopted consensus and is not yet to the public knowledge? We don’t need again to begin to sell forms and do that zoning or not zoning.

    “We are democratic enough to know when to shoot and when not to shoot. I think you should just bring your people who have not joined APC to join the party.”

    On why he was at the State House, he said, “I came in to meet with Mr President, to also brief him on the various developments in Imo State, as it has to do with security, as it has to do with governance and I had a very quality audience with Mr President.

    “I used the opportunity also to make some requests that will assist us in ensuring the security situation in Imo State is stable and that the fight against banditry is also sustained so that people can go about their businesses without fear of any molestation.

    “In the same manner, I also used the opportunity to request Mr President to consider locating a power generating facility in Nworie River, where we have been able to empty all the flood control systems by balloon technology and the tide has gone up, and because of the sufficient water in the river now, we can use that river to generate electricity to serve the entire Owerri Metropolis.

    “Mr. President also saw that as a good idea and pleased to support it and has given anticipatory approval for us to commence with the conceptual designs.”

    On the security situation in the state, Senator Uzodimma said, “We’ve made tremendous progress, we’ve been able to confront the bandits and the situation in Imo now is relatively calm. The Imo State Government has also procured some equipment for Nigerian Police and the Department of State Services to be used by Imo Command to be able to sustain our efforts in confronting the monster.

    “Only last week, we’ve placed an additional order for the procurement of armoured personnel carriers to be used by Nigerian Police in the ten federal consequences of Imo State and also we are supporting them with some other equipment, particularly in the area of technology, to make their work easier for them.”

    Asked what his administration was doing about making the Oguta Lake more economically viable for Imo State, he said, “As you know, the work on Oguta Port has commenced. We finished the initial hydrological studies, we’ve done the hydrographic studies, we’ve completed the conceptual design and then the seaport, the detailed engineering is being done.

    “In addition to that, only last year, Mr. President approved the location of a naval base in Oguta to enhance the security situation in that place. So, it is my hope, working in partnership with the private sector, that Oguta Port will soon be a reality and if that happens, it will not only improve the economic base of the state, neighbouring states like Anambra, Nnewi, Aba markets will use that for delivery of goods.

    “We have seven oil companies in Imo State, most of them, part of the challenges that have today is the evacuation of their produce, and then also the importation of the materials they use for exploration and production. So, when Oguta Port comes on stream, it will go a long way in alleviating the challenges that the oil companies face in Imo state.”