Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held a closed-door meeting in Abuja on Wednesday evening.
The meeting took place at the Abuja lodge of Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, who also serves as Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum.
Uzodimma convened the gathering ahead of the APC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, which is scheduled to hold on Thursday at the Presidential Villa.
Among the early arrivals were Governors Babagana Zulum (Borno), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), and Monday Okpebholo (Edo).
Others in attendance included Bassey Otu (Cross River), Nasir Idris (Kebbi), Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Usman Ododo (Kogi), and Senator Uba Sani (Kaduna).
While the meeting’s agenda was not officially disclosed, sources suggest it focused on discussions surrounding the selection of a new APC National Chairman.
The seat became vacant following Abdullahi Ganduje’s resignation in June, citing the need to prioritise his health and step back from active politics. His departure has left a leadership void at a time when the party is preparing for key by-elections, including governorship polls in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun States.
One of the critical issues to be addressed by Acting National Chairman, Ali Bukar Dalori, is the ratification of the timetable for congresses, reconstitution of standing committees, and updates on the APC’s digital membership registration process across the 36 states.
There is also intense lobbying over which region should produce the next national chairman. Some stakeholders advocate for retaining the position in the North-West, where Ganduje hails from and where Rabiu Kwankwaso — a former Kano governor and NNPP presidential candidate — is being discussed as a potential successor.
Others are pushing for the seat to return to the North-Central, where it was originally zoned before a 2022 realignment, arguing that doing so would promote internal balance and historical equity within the party.