APC Schedules 24 July NEC Meeting To Appoint New National Chairman.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced that its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting will take place on 24 July 2025 to nominate a new substantive National Chairman, following the resignation of Dr Abdullahi Ganduje. The decision was made during an emergency meeting of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) held on Monday at the APC’s national secretariat in Abuja.
The NWC, led by Deputy National Secretary Barr. Festus Fuanter, confirmed that a notice for the NEC meeting has been formally sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The meeting is expected to address the leadership vacancy created by Ganduje’s departure and initiate constitutional procedures to appoint his successor. “The NEC meeting will provide the opportunity to nominate a new chairman for the party,” Fuanter stated, adding that the NWC also discussed preparations for upcoming bye-elections and early plans for ward, local government, and state congresses.
Ganduje, a former two-term governor of Kano State, resigned as APC National Chairman on 27 June 2025, citing personal and health-related reasons. His tenure, which began in August 2023 after the resignation of his predecessor Senator Abdullahi Adamu, was marked by internal controversies, with some party members arguing that his appointment from the North-West zone breached the APC’s zoning arrangements. Following his resignation, Ganduje was appointed Chairman of the Board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in January 2025, with speculation that he may also be considered for a non-career ambassadorial role.
In the interim, Ali Bukar Dalori, the former Deputy National Chairman (North), has assumed the role of Acting National Chairman. Addressing party members on Monday, Dalori pledged to lead with transparency, inclusiveness, and unity. “I am committed to working with all party members to safeguard the unity of our party, uphold discipline, and ensure we remain focused on delivering on our mandate to Nigerians,” he said. Dalori, who hails from Borno State in the North-East, urged NEC members to prioritise the party’s broader goals of delivering good governance and strengthening internal democracy.
The APC’s Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) has welcomed Ganduje’s resignation, describing it as part of the party’s “continued evolution.” At a two-day strategic meeting in Benin City, hosted by Edo State Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo, the governors reaffirmed their commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and emphasised the need for social equity and inclusive prosperity. They also highlighted the growing investor confidence in Nigeria and the role of APC-led states in attracting domestic and foreign investments.
However, the resignation has reignited calls from the North-Central APC Forum for the National Chairman position to return to their region. The Forum’s Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, argued that the North-Central should be allowed to complete the tenure of former Chairman Abdullahi Adamu, who also hails from the region. “It is only fair and just for the party to allow the North-Central to produce the next Chairman,” Zazzaga said, appealing to President Tinubu to direct the Acting National Chairman to convene the NEC meeting promptly for this purpose.
Speculation has also arisen about potential candidates, with some reports suggesting pressure on the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, to resign and contest for the chairmanship. However, the Presidency has dismissed rumours of Akume’s replacement as SGF, with Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga clarifying that no changes have been made to Akume’s position.
As the APC prepares for the 24 July NEC meeting, party stakeholders are engaged in ongoing consultations to ensure a smooth transition. The meeting is expected to be a pivotal moment for the ruling party as it seeks to consolidate its leadership and prepare for future electoral challenges, including the 2027 general elections.