Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress were in a closed-door meeting at the Kebbi Governors’ Lodge, Abuja, Sunday night where they reportedly strategised ahead of the party’s February Convention.
The emergency meeting was part of effort aimed at preventing a recur of the recent crisis that rocked the party.
Sources told FirstNews that the governor’s also assessed the various presidential aspirants on ground, and discussed on how best to conduct party presidential and governorship primaries later in the year.
Already, three main aspirants have declared interest, namely Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.
It is still being touted that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will soon throw his hat into the ring.
Although the Progressives Governors’ Forum Chairman, Abubakar Bagudu, did not disclose the issues to be discussed at Sunday night’s meeting, it was believed that the core agenda is to clear the air over the date for the APC National Convention.
While several governors and stakeholders are vehemently opposing an alleged plan to retain the Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (which have spent 19 months as opposed to the proposed six) others have called on the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to intervene.
There are heightened tensions between Forum members who want a February convention and those who are seeking a postponement altogether.
Also part of agenda of yesterday’s meeting was likely to be the various lawsuits filed by disgruntled party members from various states across the country as well as crises and factions in various state chapters of the party.
The meeting was attended by the Governors of Kebbi State, Abubakar Bagudu; Yobe, Mai Mala Buni; Borno, Babagana Zulum; Jigawa, Muhammad Abubakar; Ondo, Rotimi Akeredolu; Niger, Abubakar Bello; Kaduna, Nasir El-Rufai; Ekiti, Kayode Fayemi; Kogi, Yahaya Bello; Ogun, Dapo Abiodun; Zamfara, Bello Matawalle; Ebonyi, Dave Umahi; Osun, Gboyega Oyetola; Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Plateau, Simon Lalong; Imo, Hope Uzondinma; Nasarrawa, Abdullahi Sule, Cross River, Ben Ayade; Kwara and Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Nkem Okeke
At the time of filing this report, the Governors of Katsina, Aminu Masari; Kano, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje; and Gombe, Muhammad Yahaya were yet to arrive.
