Ganduje Emerges APC National Chairman, Ajibola As Secretary …Buhari, Osinbajo Absent At NEC Meeting

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has confirmed the appointment of the immediate-past Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje as National Chairman of the party.
Ganduje replaces Senator Abdullahi Adamu who resigned last month.
It also appointed the spokesperson of the ninth National Assembly from Osun State, Senator Basiru Ajibola, as National Secretary to replace Senator Iyiola Omisore who also resigned last month along with Adamu.
NEC took the decision at its 12th meeting held at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, yesterday.
Recall that APC’s National Legal Adviser, Ahmed El-Marzuk, had also resigned from the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
El-Marzuk resigned his appointment on Wednesday, following insistence by some of his colleagues that he could not longer be in office due to some allegations against him.
The appointment of Ganduje and Ajibola was ratified barely an hour after President Bola Tinubu arrived at the Transcorp Hilton at about 12:20pm.
Among party chieftains that also attended the meeting include the pioneer National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, acting National Chairman of the party, Senator Abubakar Kyari; Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and some APC governors.
Members of the committee started moving into the Hall as early as 9:30am with the Acting National Chairman and other members of the National Working Committee at hand to receive delegates to the meeting
However, two prominent leaders of the party, former President Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, were conspicuously absent at yesterday’s meeting of the party.
Buhari, through a statement by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, however, explained that he was unable to attend the meeting due to commitments he earlier made.
The statement reads, “Former President Muhammadu Buhari has explained his inability to be present at the caucus meeting and the National Executive Committee, NEC, meetings of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to which he has been invited.
“He has conveyed his apologies, indicating that he is unable to attend due to commitments earlier made.
“The former president used the opportunity to express his support and commitment to the party, at the same time wishing it a good meeting, as the leaders take decisions on issues of importance to the party and the nation.”
Former Vice President Osinbajo also apologised for his unavailability at the events.
Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, said his principal was out of the country for some engagements to which he had long been committed.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Akande, however, reaffirmed Osinbajo’s commitment to the party.
He said: “In a letter of apology for his absence addressed to the Acting Chairman of the party (Abubakar Kyari), the former VP explained that he was already abroad for engagements to which he had long been committed, when he received the invitation to the meeting,” the statement partly read.
“He had in fact cancelled some of his engagements abroad to be available for the two previously scheduled caucus meetings of the party which had to be postponed due to exigencies.
“While wishing the party fruitful deliberations, he expressed his commitment to the Party and his availability for future meetings and activities of the party.”
The party’s national caucus meeting that took place at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday was a precursor to yesterday’s NEC summit to ratify the endorsement of Ganduje and Ajibola.
Following the announcement of their appointments, supporters of Ganduje and Ajibola broke into wild jubilation that almost disrupted the programme temporarily.
The Tide source also confirmed that scores of supporters of the new APC National Chairman trooped to the national headquarters of the party in excitement to await his arrival yesterday afternoon.
The jubilant supporters who were dressed in Babaringa, customised campaign shirts and caps to match, were seen chanting and dancing around the secretariat.
The Tide also learnt that similar scenario played out in Osogbo, Osun State capital as residents thronged the streets to jubilate Ajibola’s emergence.
The residents majorly members of the APC in Osogbo and Olorunda embarked on street rally from Ataoja’s palace through Mission road, Old Garage, Olaiya to the State Party Secretariat at Ogo-Oluwa where they were addressed by party leaders.
The visibly ecstatic party members were singing victory songs over the emergence of Ajibola as National Secretary of the party.
Addressing party members at the Secretariat, the State APC Secretary, Kamarudeen Alao, described Ajibola’s emergence as progressive step for the party in the country and Osun State.
His words: “The choice of Basiru by the national leadership showed that the party has not abandoned its progressive ideology. Basiru understand party politics and the concept of good governance, he will liaise effectively with elected public officials to ensure that the party manifesto is not jettisoned.
“We commend Chief Bisi Akande, former governor Gboyega Oyetola for their tenacity and support for the former senator, we are sure the party will move to higher ground both at the national level and state”.
Also, the State Women Leader, Kudirat Fakokunde described Ajibola’s emergence as round peg in a round hole.
“We are all behind him, he understands progressive politics both at the state level and nationally”, she added.

By: Boye Salau