Tinubu, APC govs meet over rancour-free primaries

In a crucial move to cement party unity ahead of upcoming primaries, President Bola Tinubu convened a high-stakes meeting with governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the presidential villa. The closed-door session was dedicated to strategizing a path towards peaceful and transparent primary elections, a critical step in ensuring the party's cohesion and electoral strength. Vanguard, a leading voice in Nigerian journalism, highlights the significance of this gathering, which included key figures like Senator Hope Uzodimma, Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, and Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum. The governors emerged from the meeting expressing confidence in the process, emphasizing President Tinubu's commitment to a fair electoral contest. Governor AbdulRazaq stated that deliberations centered on ensuring free and fair elections with no room for rancor, aiming to emerge from the primaries stronger than ever. Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, further underscored the President's magnanimity, noting that executive power had been ceded to the governors to conduct primaries according to the Electoral Act, whether through consensus or direct methods. This proactive engagement by President Tinubu demonstrates a clear intent to foster internal democracy within the APC, a stark contrast to the often contentious primary elections witnessed in other political climes. The commitment to a transparent process, as articulated by the governors, signals a unified front for the APC as it prepares for the general elections.

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We met with Mr. President. The timetable for the primaries has been released. We’ve discussed the process moving forward, so that there’ll be free and fair elections, no rancour, and at the end of the process, the party should be one, stronger than ever, heading towards the election.