Mr. Felix Morka

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has begun consultations to appoint a new national chairman following the resignation of Dr Abdullahi Ganduje. The ruling party, however, says no date has been set yet for the National Executive Committee (NEC) or National Caucus meetings.

This was made known by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, during an appearance on Politics Today, Channels Television, yesterday.

Ganduje resigned on Friday, citing health-related concerns. His departure has further intensified the internal tensions already brewing within the party. In the interim, the party’s Deputy National Chairman (North), Bukar Dalori, has taken over the chairmanship in an acting capacity.

Despite growing speculation and political pressure, Morka maintained that the party is not in a hurry to fill the leadership vacuum.

“The NEC meeting of our party will be convened imminently. No date has been set yet,” Morka stated. “This is an extraordinary situation following the resignation of our national chairman, and we will take steps immediately to fill the vacancy.”

He noted that consultations are ongoing among critical stakeholders and that once consensus is reached, the date for the NEC meeting will be announced.

“I believe that in the coming days, we will determine the date for the NEC meeting to happen,” he said. “We will proceed to convene that meeting and have the party invoke its constitutional procedures to replace our national chairman who has just resigned.”

Addressing reports that President Bola Tinubu influenced Ganduje’s resignation, Morka dismissed the rumours as unfounded.

“I call it speculation because the president hasn’t said anything to anyone that I’m aware of. The president is at liberty to speak at any moment on any issue concerning the party or the country,” he said. “We know people will speculate with the ruling party, the largest party in Africa. But all that counts is that an NEC meeting will convene, and we will resolve this matter as we’ve done in the past.”

The NEC and National Caucus are two of the party’s highest decision-making bodies and are expected to be chaired by President Tinubu, with Vice President Kashim Shettima also expected to attend.

Other top party figures anticipated at the meetings include former President Muhammadu Buhari; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; former and current APC governors; serving and past Speakers of the House of Representatives; state party chairmen; members of the National Working Committee; and other key stakeholders.