Tinubu, APC Governors Storm First National Caucus Meeting Under Yilwatda

 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima and governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday attended the party’s first National Caucus meeting under its new National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda.

The meeting, held at the State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, marked Yilwatda’s maiden caucus session since his emergence as party chairman.

President Tinubu arrived at the venue at about 7:38pm, accompanied by Vice-President Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, his deputy, Benjamin Kalu, Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma, and other top party leaders.

Notably, six governors who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC — Peter Mbah (Enugu), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Agbu Kefas (Taraba) and Douye Diri (Bayelsa) — attended their first APC caucus meeting.

Also present were APC governors from Edo, Gombe, Ondo, Kogi, Ekiti, Ebonyi, Sokoto, Yobe, Benue, Cross River, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ogun, Kaduna and Katsina states.

Party elders at the meeting included former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, pioneer APC National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande, former Ogun State Governor Chief Segun Osoba, former Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, former Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade, and former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

Former Senate Presidents Ken Nnamani and Anyim Pius Anyim, ex-Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, NDLEA Chairman Buba Marwa, and other prominent party leaders also attended.

Addressing the caucus, Yilwatda said the wave of defections by serving governors and lawmakers underscored the APC’s growing national acceptance and strength.

He said the ruling party now enjoys a clear majority in both chambers of the National Assembly, adding that an electronic membership registration system has been activated to enhance transparency and internal democracy ahead of forthcoming congresses.

The APC chairman also disclosed that the party has acquired land in Abuja’s Central Business District for the construction of a new national secretariat and recorded victories in 14 of the 17 recent by-elections it contested.

According to him, the party is finalising amendments to its constitution ahead of the next national convention and is fully prepared for the February 21, 2026 Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections.

Yilwatda reaffirmed the party’s unity and support for President Tinubu’s reform agenda, noting that resolutions from the meeting would be issued at the conclusion of deliberations.