The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced a last-minute change in the venue of its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting slated for Thursday, July 24, 2025. Originally scheduled to hold at the party’s national secretariat in Wuse II, Abuja, the high-level gathering will now take place at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa by 2:00 p.m.

The change in location was confirmed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, who attributed the shift to “logistical reasons.”

“The All Progressives Congress announces that the meeting of the Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) scheduled for Thursday, July 24, will now take place at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“The change of venue from the Party’s National Secretariat, 40 Blantyre Street, Wuse II, Abuja is due to logistical reasons,” the statement read.

This announcement comes amid heightened anticipation over key decisions expected to be made at the NEC meeting, particularly as the ruling party navigates leadership changes and prepares for upcoming elections.

In what appears to be a prelude to Thursday’s meeting, governors elected on the APC platform convened a closed-door meeting in Abuja on Wednesday. The gathering, hosted at the Imo State Governor’s Lodge, was presided over by Governor Hope Uzodimma, who chairs the Progressive Governors Forum.

Among those present were high-ranking APC governors, they include; Babagana Zulum (Borno), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Monday Okpebholo (Edo), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta) others include; Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Nasir Idris (Kebbi), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara),Uba Sani (Kaduna), Usman Ododo (Kogi), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Bassey Otu (Cross River)

While the governors did not publicly disclose the agenda of the meeting, sources familiar with the discussion say the gathering was focused on building consensus ahead of Thursday’s NEC session particularly around the issue of appointing a substantive national chairman.

Leadership Vacancy Looms Large

The APC has been without a substantive national chairman since the resignation of Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje in June 2025. Ganduje stepped down amid growing pressure from within the party, citing personal health concerns and a need to step back from frontline politics.

Since his resignation, Ali Bukar Dalori, the Deputy National Chairman (North), has been serving in an acting capacity. However, the party is yet to formally ratify his position or name a permanent replacement a decision that is expected to take centre stage at the NEC meeting.

Party watchers believe the leadership vacuum could affect the APC’s coordination and strategy, especially ahead of key off-cycle governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun States, as well as expected by-elections in federal and state constituencies.

Apart from the leadership question, the NEC is also expected to deliberate on the ratification of the timetable for party congresses at state, local government, and ward levels; Approval of standing committees for internal restructuring and an update on the e-registration initiative, which aims to digitally register party members across all 36 states and the FCT. The electronic membership registration, which began last year, is seen as critical to improving internal democracy and streamlining membership verification ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Significance of the Venue Switch

The decision to move the NEC meeting to the Presidential Villa has raised eyebrows, with political analysts suggesting it may indicate greater executive involvement in the party’s affairs. It also signals the gravity of the issues to be discussed, as such high-profile venues are typically reserved for matters of national importance.

Some political observers interpret the shift as a strategic move to create a more controlled environment for sensitive discussions especially with the future of the party’s leadership and internal unity on the line.

As the APC prepares to convene its NEC at the Presidential Villa, stakeholders across the country are watching closely. The outcome of the meeting is expected to shape the ruling party’s internal structure, political direction, and readiness for future elections.

Whether the party emerges stronger and more united or more fragmented will depend heavily on the resolutions taken behind closed doors on Thursday.