There are growing indications that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), under Abdullahi Ganduje, may delay the inaugural meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) until 2025.
Sources within the APC Secretariat who spoke with Punch attribute this potential postponement to the busy schedule and ongoing absence of President Bola Tinubu, who has not yet returned to Nigeria.
An insider revealed, “As we speak, Mr. President is not back in the country. This was also the reason we had to annul the initial September dates we chose for the NEC meeting. But whichever way, the chances of holding an NEC meeting this year are no longer feasible. It is just two months until the end of the year. Again, we can’t fix it around the festive period in December. Perhaps in 2025, but 2024 is gone for sure.”
These concerns arose just two months after the APC announced the indefinite postponement of its National Caucus and National Executive Committee meetings, which were initially scheduled for September 11 and 12, respectively.
While no official reason was provided for the suspension of these meetings, National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka stated that a new date would be announced later.
However, sources have indicated that both engagements were called off due to Tinubu’s absence.
When contacted for a reaction, Nze Chidi Duru, the National Deputy Organising Secretary of the APC, confirmed that no new date has been set for the NEC meeting. He stated, “We are not aware of any new date. As of now, the postponement still stands.”
Similarly, Abdulkareem Kana, the National Legal Adviser of the APC, echoed this sentiment, saying, “We can’t say when the next NEC meeting will be held. I am aware a new date has not been fixed. For us at APC, we can’t do anything until we get a new date from the President. He is expected back in the country any moment from his travel.”