By Clement John
ABUJA — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday held a closed-door meeting with governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as part of efforts to ensure rancour-free and transparent party primaries ahead of upcoming elections.
The meeting, which took place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, brought together members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, including its Chairman and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, as well as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Other governors in attendance included Inuwa Yahaya, Umar Bago, Babagana Zulum, Hyacinth Alia, Biodun Oyebanji, and Peter Mbah, among others, while some states were represented by their deputies.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, AbdulRazaq said discussions centred on the party’s primary election timetable and strategies to ensure a smooth and credible process.
“We met with Mr. President. The timetable for the primaries has been released. We’ve discussed the process moving forward so that there will be free and fair elections without rancour, and at the end of the process, the party should emerge stronger and united ahead of the general elections,” he said.
Also speaking, Governor Bago said the governors used the opportunity to commend the President for his leadership and continued support for the party.
He disclosed that Tinubu provided clear guidance on the conduct of the primaries, while reaffirming the governors’ autonomy to adopt options permitted under the Electoral Act, including consensus or direct primaries.
“We came to thank the President for his support to the governors and the party. He has given us direction and a go-ahead to conduct primaries in line with the law,” Bago said.
The meeting comes amid heightened political activities within the APC as the party prepares for its primaries, with leaders seeking to avoid internal disputes and strengthen unity ahead of the elections.
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