Let me start by expressing my sincere gratitude to Almighty GOD Who has pleased to make me the honour and privilege to lead this great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). I am, indeed, most humbled.

May I also warmly appreciate the leader of our party, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Asiwaju and Jagaban of Borgu for his continued support and commitment to the ideals of our great party.

I would also like to specially acknowledge the contributions of His Excellency the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima; the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; Speaker of the House Representatives, Hon. Tajuddeen Abbas, leadership and Caucus of the National Assembly, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, members of the National Working Committee of our party, party Elders and members of the Caucus.

Let me also thank the Progressive Governor’s Forum and all key stakeholders of our party for their dedication, diligence and strategic role in the development of our party.

With boundless gratitude for the confidence placed in me by leaders and members of our party, and with an unswerving resolve to honour that trust, I humbly accept my appointment as the Chairman of our party, the APC.

I am deeply touched and inspired by the generous words of congratulations and encouragement I have been receiving and wish to extend my deepest respect and appreciation to all the leaders and members for their strong support. 

Our main focus will be promoting party unity and defending and increasing the number of executive and legislative seats we currently hold. Under my watch, internal democracy will be strictly adhered to with a deliberate policy to engage in wider consultations and make the party functional throughout the year.

More reforms will be carried out in the party in alignment with the current political landscape. We all agreed that we must unite our members to achieve support for our government to respond adequately, urgently and assertively” to the challenges that Nigerians confront on a daily basis.

The challenges include unemployment, poverty, insecurity, social cohesion and the rising cost of living.

I want to make a special appeal to Nigerians to bear with the President at this trying moment, considering that the country’s economy had been in shambles for years. I believe the policies and programmes to be unveiled by Mr President when his administration fully takes shape will surely turn around things for the better.

Our party must remain rooted among the people, must demonstrate a willingness to serve and make sacrifices, and must be willing to acknowledge and address our weaknesses.

It’s a huge privilege and an honour and a great responsibility to take on this job and I will do it with everything I have to the best of my ability for my party and my country.

We will ensure a level playing field for all party members that want to contest elections under the party’s platform. Our primary elections would be free, transparent and fair.

Let me also use this opportunity to call on members of our party and all the people of Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states to close ranks and ensure that the APC wins in the forthcoming governorship elections.

Finally, while accepting this responsibility, I count on your support to help me deliver it the best way I can.

God bless you all.

The National Executive Committee is in charge of everything. The governing All Progressives Congress APC NEC has endorsed the choice of Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the immediate-past Governor of Kano state, as the party’s National Chairman.

The decision was made by the NEC at its 12th meeting on Thursday in Abuja.
Senator Basiru Ajibola was also named National Secretary.

More on that later….

National Legal Adviser of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Ahmed El-Marzuk, has resigned from the party’s National Working Committee, NWC.

he resigned his appointment on Wednesday, following insistence by some of his colleagues that he could no longer be in office due to some allegations against him.

The 12th National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of the party, which is currently underway in Abuja, is expected to name a replacement.

More to come……

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has explained why he did not attend the caucus meeting of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. The ruling APC had scheduled August 2 and 3 for its national caucus and national executive committee (NEC) meetings, respectively.

The national caucus meeting took place at the presidential villa on Wednesday, while the NEC summit will assemble party leaders in Transcorp Hilton today (Thursday). On why Buhari was unable to attend the meetings, Garba Shehu, his spokesman, in a statement, said the former president was unavailable due to some other commitments.

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.”

Recall that former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo also apologised for his unavailability at the events. Osinbajo said he has been committed to many assignments outside the country. On July 17, the APC announced the suspension of its planned national caucus and national NEC meetings.

Abubakar Kyari, acting national chairman of the APC, spoke after an emergency gathering of the party’s national working committee (NWC). The NWC sit-down which was held at the party’s headquarters in Abuja was called after the “resignation” of Abdullahi Adamu and Iyiola Omisore as the National Chairman and National Secretary of the ruling party, respectively.

Kyari said the change in the party’s leadership necessitated the postponement of the meetings.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said Wednesday that he supports more countries joining the BRICS group of large developing nations, which currently includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

Lula’s comments came hours after it was reported that Brazil had resisted expanding the group’s membership because some Brazilian diplomats voiced concern that adding more nations could lessen the influence of existing members.

“We are going to discuss the entry of new countries (to Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa bloc), and I am of the opinion that as many countries want to enter if they are in compliance with the rules we are establishing, we will accept the countries’ entrance,” explained President Lula.

Since taking office, President Lula has repeatedly bucked the existing dominating international structure.

He went on to hail the prospects of the Chinese-backed New Development Bank, commonly known as the BRICS bank, which is currently funding infrastructure projects in Brazil.

“I think the BRICS bank needs to be more effective and more generous than the IMF. That is, the bank is there to help save countries and not to help sink countries, which the IMF often does,” he added.

The group will hold a summit in Johannesburg in August with an in-hand list of others desiring to join the group, all BRICS members are interested in trying to accept other countries, but parameters still need to be discussed.