Hopes are high that the Northcentral geopolitical zone will reclaim the coveted All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairmanship today, as the party’s crucial National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting kicks off at the Aso Rock Villa.
The seat, which was originally zoned to the Northcentral region and held by Senator Abdullahi Adamu until August 2023, has been at the centre of heated internal lobbying since Adamu’s resignation. Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, who hails from the Northwest, stepped in as chairman but stepped down last month on health grounds, reigniting Northcentral’s demand for the top job.
Multiple party insiders confirmed to 9am News Nigeria that meetings held between Tuesday night and early this morning indicate broad consensus that the chairmanship will revert to the Northcentral, fulfilling the original zoning arrangement.
Among those being strongly tipped is Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and the APC’s 2023 governorship candidate in Plateau State. A respected engineer and academic, Prof. Yilwatda previously served as Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Benue State between 2017 and 2021.
However, his emergence is yet to be officially confirmed, with sources saying last-minute negotiations could still produce a surprise pick from the shortlist.
Hope Uzodimma Speaks After Villa Meeting
After leading the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) to meet President Bola Tinubu at Aso Rock on Tuesday night, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma disclosed that today’s NEC session will mainly focus on appointing a new National Chairman and may delegate powers on other matters like ratifying the congress timetable and standing committees to the National Working Committee (NWC).
Governor Uzodimma added that the meeting with President Tinubu also provided an opportunity for governors to discuss how to strengthen the APC’s grassroots structures ahead of the 2027 elections.
On whether a consensus candidate has already been agreed upon, the Imo governor said: “It is a NEC meeting; we cannot say what the outcome will be. When you come there today, you will see it.”
The National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, confirmed in a statement last night that the NEC meeting has been moved from the APC National Secretariat to the Presidential Villa for 10am today.
Ahead of today’s decisive meeting, APC governors, state chairmen and key NWC members met late into the night, strategising on a smooth transition and how best to keep the party united.
The Progressives Governors Forum, led by Uzodimma, included over 20 APC governors and deputy governors, among them AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), and Hyacinth Alia (Benue).
Political watchers see the NEC’s outcome today as critical for the ruling party’s stability ahead of its planned congresses and the 2027 general election campaign.
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