The APC NEC night that silenced the doubters

The Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja has hosted countless meetings, speeches and ceremonies. But on that memorable day of the 15th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the hall did not merely host another political gathering, it hosted a moment.

A moment thick with confidence.

A moment soaked in conviction.

A moment pregnant with political destiny.

As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu walked into the hall, it was clear to even the most distracted observer that this was not a man burdened by doubt. This was a president in firm control of the steering wheel, eyes on the road, hands steady, unbothered by the noise from the backseat.

What stood before party leaders was not a leader guessing his way forward, but one who believes, unapologetically, that Nigeria’s challenges are surmountable, not sacred.

A PRESIDENT WITHOUT NOTES, BUT WITH DIRECTION

Although a prepared speech sat politely on the podium, President Tinubu chose instead to speak from conviction rather than from paper. What followed was an extempore delivery marked by clarity, confidence, and political muscle memory honed over decades.

“I feel proud to stand before you,” he declared, proud of a party with 28 states, proud of its continental stature, proud that its dominance is not whispered in corners but acknowledged internationally.

Democracy, he reminded the audience, is non-negotiable because Nigeria is the heart of Africa. And when the heart beats right, the body lives.
Then came a moment of solemn reflection. Tinubu took the audience back to the dark valleys of the 2023 election period: the currency redesign, petrol queues, empty stomachs, needless suffering. People, he noted, died simply because democracy was under siege. And yet, by divine intervention, democracy survived.

“We must be faithful to God,” he said, “that this democracy must not fail.”

The president’s charge to the party was as profound as it was practical: be big, but be tolerant; be strong, but be accommodating. Politics, he implied, is not a private club, it is a broad organisation. There must be room for new entrants, even if they don’t yet know where the hymn book is kept.
On security, he left no room for ambiguity. Terrorism and banditry, he said, would be dealt with decisively. State police is no longer a rumour, it is a destination.
“Leading a big party,” Tinubu warned with a knowing smile, “is not a joke.” The APC, he said, is a large vehicle and must be driven carefully and gently, lest it skids under its own weight.

A PARTY THAT LOOKED BACK ONLY TO MEASURE HOW FAR IT HAS COME

When Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, the National Chairman of the APC, took the podium, any lingering doubt about his capacity evaporated like morning dew under the Abuja sun. His speech was not just an address, it was an eye-opener.
With the calm confidence of a technocrat and the political awareness of a party man, Yilwatda reminded NEC members that the APC has become the only truly pan-Nigerian party, enjoying acceptance across all six geopolitical zones.
He recalled how the last NEC meeting reshaped the party’s leadership through strategic zoning adjustments; changes that have since delivered stability, cohesion, and discipline. These were not cosmetic reforms; they were structural realignments that strengthened the party’s spine.

FROM ELECTORAL FORTITUDE TO DISCIPLINED GROWTH

The Chairman reeled out achievements with the ease of a man reading from a well-kept ledger:
Electoral resilience, with victories across off-cycle and by-elections nationwide.
Improved party discipline, replacing chaos with conversation.
Stronger policy alignment, ensuring the APC remains the engine room of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Growing membership, as defectors from opposition parties continue to find their way home, some sheepishly, others triumphantly.
And if anyone doubted the APC’s expanding reach, the South-South geopolitical zone settled the argument. With the defection of Governors from Enugu, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Taraba, and the collapse of opposition structures, the APC now controls all six South-South states. History was made without a drumroll.
As the Chairman joked, politics allowing, “We are not deterred by shallow criticism. When a house is beautiful, even passers-by want to move in.”

DIGITAL MEMBERSHIP, A NEW HEADQUARTERS, AND A PARTY BUILT FOR THE FUTURE

The APC, Yilwatda announced, is entering the digital age with an electronic membership registration system designed to enhance transparency, internal democracy, and data integrity. Training has been completed nationwide; what remains is execution.
Institutionally, the party has also acquired a prime property in Abuja’s Central Business District for a befitting national secretariat, a physical symbol of a party that plans not just to win elections, but to outlive them.

HOPE UZODIMMA AND THE GOVERNORS: A VERDICT FROM THE FIELD

If President Tinubu spoke with dexterity, Governor Hope Uzodimma spoke with fire. Representing the Progressive Governors’ Forum, he reminded the gathering that Nigeria was in a state of coma in 2023; empty coffers, wasted subsidies, neglected roads.
Tinubu, he said, did not complain; he acted. Subsidy was removed. Revenue expanded. States and local governments now breathe easier. Food prices are stabilising. Foreign reserves are rising. The gap between official and parallel exchange rates has closed.
“The doomsayers predicted petrol at ₦2,000,” Uzodimma quipped. “They have been disappointed.”
With 28 governors now under the APC banner, he joked that the party was “ready to marry more wives”, a humorous nod to growing political attraction. The governors unanimously passed a vote of confidence in President Tinubu, sealing it with applause that shook the hall.

A VICE PRESIDENT, A SENATE PRESIDENT, AND A SPEAKER IN SYNC

The Vice President Kashim Shettima struck a reflective tone, reminding members that democracy survived because one man refused to surrender. From 19 states in 2023 to 28 today, the APC has become the bride everyone wants to marry, not because of slogans, but because of courage.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio pledged unwavering legislative support, declaring that the Senate would not fail the President or the party.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives reinforced the administration’s legislative success, record numbers of bills signed into law, billions recovered through oversight, and a renewed commitment to disciplined governance.

A PARTY THAT KNOWS WHERE IT IS GOING

By the time the gavel fell, one thing was unmistakable: the APC is no longer merely reacting to events; it is shaping them. It is a party that debates fiercely but unites firmly, disagrees loudly but resolves responsibly.
The NEC meeting was not just a gathering, it was a declaration.
That the APC is united.
That President Tinubu is firmly in charge.
That Nigeria’s democracy, though tested, is standing tall.
And when the Banquet Hall finally released its occupants into the night, it was impossible to ignore the feeling that history had just cleared its throat. This was not a party searching for direction; it was one marching toward destiny.

Tooki is founder/editor and Special Adviser to the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) (Media and Communications Strategy) He can be reached via [email protected]