President Bola Tinubu on yesterday evening convened a meeting of the National Caucus of the All Progressives Congress at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, as the ruling party stepped up internal consultations ahead of critical political milestones.
Among those present were six governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party who recently defected to the APC.
The governors — Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, Pastor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State and Agbu Kefas of Taraba State — attended the caucus meeting following their defection to the ruling party.
Also in attendance were former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, and another former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, all of whom were prominent members of the PDP before joining the APC.
The National Caucus and National Executive Committee meetings, initially scheduled for December 15 and 16, were later shifted to Thursday and Friday, December 18 and 19, to allow for broader participation and to address evolving party priorities.
The National Caucus comprises senior party stakeholders, including the President and Vice President of Nigeria; former APC-affiliated presidents and vice presidents; serving and former governors; leaders of the National Assembly; and zonal representatives. Traditionally, the caucus meets ahead of the NEC, which is the party’s highest decision-making body. Statutory members of the NEC include “the National Chairman, Deputy National Chairmen (North and South), National Secretary, Deputy National Secretary, National Legal Adviser, Deputy National Legal Adviser, National Treasurer and Deputy National Treasurer,” among others.
Sources at the venue described the meeting as strategic and consultative, aimed at strengthening party unity, reinforcing internal discipline and harmonising positions ahead of the NEC session. Discussions were expected to focus on organisational priorities, coordination at the state level and the alignment of stakeholders across the geopolitical zones. Although the agenda was wide-ranging, unifying senior party figures around common objectives was said to be central, particularly in the post-Buhari era, where gestures of continuity and stability are considered important.
The attendance of former officeholders was viewed as a confidence-building move following the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari earlier in the year. The meeting also served as a platform for senior party leaders to exchange views, manage internal disagreements and build consensus on the party’s political direction, especially as it moves toward the 2026 calendar, when preparations for the 2027 general election primaries are expected to begin.
Vice President Kashim Shettima led top government officials at the meeting, alongside Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.
President Tinubu arrived at the meeting venue at 7:38 p.m.
