APC Set to Hold Key NEC Meeting After Delays, Amid Concerns Over Leadership

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is set to convene the much-awaited National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, potentially as early as February 2025, after multiple delays in 2024. The postponement of this critical meeting has sparked growing concerns within the party, particularly among key figures like former Vice National Chairman Mallam Salihu Lukman and ex-Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai.

Dr. Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, APC’s National Secretary, confirmed that the party is making arrangements to hold the NEC meeting soon, emphasizing that it would likely take place this month. The NEC and caucus meetings were initially scheduled for September 2024 but were called off without new dates provided until now.

The delay has caused unease, with critics like El-Rufai expressing frustration over the lack of internal party governance. At a national conference, El-Rufai questioned the relevance of the party, noting that its key organs, including the NEC and caucus, have not met in two years. His remarks reflected widespread dissatisfaction with the party’s current state, labeling it a “zero-man show.”

Similarly, Mallam Lukman, former Director-General of the Progressives Governors Forum, voiced concerns over the absence of a scheduled NEC meeting, which he believes is necessary to address critical issues facing the APC.

Despite these internal tensions, Dr. Basiru remained confident that the APC would proceed with its plans for the meeting. He further addressed speculation surrounding the opposition’s plans for the 2027 general election, dismissing any concerns about a merger or alliance among opposition parties. According to Basiru, the opposition’s disunity, driven by personal ambitions, means they are unlikely to form a successful coalition.

Basiru criticized the opposition’s approach, pointing out that they have yet to present any meaningful alternatives to the policies of the APC-led government. He compared their approach to that of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) under Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who actively proposed alternatives during his opposition to the National Party of Nigeria (NPN).

With the NEC meeting on the horizon, the APC remains focused on its agenda, while the party’s veterans continue to voice their concerns over its future direction.