Tinubu, Shettima, governors present as APC holds first caucus meeting under Yilwatda

The national caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is holding its meeting at the banquet hall of the presidential villa in Abuja.

The meeting is the first national caucus session to be presided over by Nentawe Yilwatda, national chairman of the APC.

Governors Peter Mbah of Enugu, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Agbu Kefas of Taraba, and Douye Diri of Bayelsa are attending their first caucus meeting of the ruling party following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.

President Bola Tinubu arrived at the State House Banquet Hall, where the meeting is being held, at about 7:38 pm.

Tinubu was accompanied by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker, Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo and chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, and Yilwatda.

Other party leaders present include former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, members of the national working committee, APC governors and principal officers of the national assembly.

Among the governors in attendance are Monday Okpebholo of Edo, Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo, Usman Ododo of Kogi, Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti, Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi, Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto, Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, Hyacinth Alia of Benue, Bassey Otu of Cross River, and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara.

Others include Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Uba Sani of Kaduna, and Dikko Radda of Katsina.

Party elders at the meeting include Bisi Akande, pioneer national chairman of the APC; Segun Osoba, former governor of Ogun; Adegboyega Oyetola, former governor of Osun; Ben Ayade, former governor of Cross River; Jolly Nyame, former governor of Taraba; and Ifeanyi Okowa, former governor of Delta.

Former senate presidents Ken Nnamani and Anyim Pius Anyim, Ovie Omo-Agege, former deputy senate president, Buba Marwa, chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Isa Yuguda, Yahaya Bello, Adams Oshiomhole, Abubakar Bello, Ibikunle Amosun, Niyi Adebayo, Abdulaziz Yari and Ahmed Sani Yerima are also in attendance.

National assembly leaders present include Opeyemi Bamidele, senate leader, and senators Gbenga Daniel, Aliyu Wammako, Adamu Aliero, Ahmad Lawan and Simon Lalong.

Julius Ihonvbere and Idris Wase represented the leadership of the house of representatives.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is monitoring the proceedings.

Addressing the caucus, Yilwatda said recent defections, particularly of serving governors and lawmakers, underscored the party’s growing national spread.

He said the ruling party now enjoys a commanding majority in both chambers of the national assembly.

“We now have the majority in the senate and also in the house of representatives,” Yilwatda said.

He said the party has activated an electronic membership registration system to enhance transparency, data integrity and internal democracy, urging stakeholders to support the nationwide rollout of the exercise ahead of upcoming congresses.

Yilwatda said the party has acquired land in the central business district of Abuja for the construction of a new national secretariat.

He said the APC recorded significant success in recent by-elections, winning 14 of the 17 seats it contested.

Yilwatda said the party is also progressing with amendments to its constitution ahead of the next national convention.

He said the APC is fully prepared for the 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections scheduled for February 21, 2026.

The APC chairman said the party remains united and fully supportive of Tinubu’s reforms.

Resolutions from the caucus meeting are expected after deliberations conclude.