The vote of confidence passed on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, by the members of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) is a good omen for the evolution of Nigeria’s democracy.
Coming at a time the Tinubu administration is reeling out its achievements in the build up to the government’s second anniversary on May 29, 2025, the confidence vote will, no doubt, spur the president and members of his cabinet to render more diligent, meritorious and selfless service to Nigerians.
Prior to the APC NEC meeting, which took place on February 26, 2025, the party’s caucus leaders at its meeting also lauded the Tinubu administration for turning the economy around, with the GDP growing by 3.84 per cent in the last quarter of 2024 and inflation going downhill.
The party also ratified zoning of the national chairmanship position to the North-west geopolitical zone of the country. These decisions and others followed the adoption of a motion moved at the meeting by the chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF) and Imo state governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, penultimate Wednesday in Abuja.
Ganduje’s predecessor and serving Edo North lawmaker, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who seconded the motion, spoke glowingly of Tinubu’s performance. He said that the president’s chances of retaining his seat for another four years would be guaranteed with the support from the vast majority of Nigerians.
“I formally rise to wholeheartedly second the motion moved by Governor Hope Uzodimma that a vote of confidence be passed on President Tinubu and on the national leadership of the party,” Oshiomhole said.
Addressing the meeting, President Tinubu, who expressed gratitude to the NEC members and the party’s leadership, assured that his administration would live up to the progressive ideals of the APC. He said the commendation from the party’s highest decision-making organ was a call for more hard work. He promised not to fail the party faithful.
“I am happy with your vote of confidence, and I accept it. The vote is a challenge to do more work; we will vigorously pursue our sovereignty in food security, investment and development. I am happy with food prices coming down, especially as Ramadan approaches. The sun is high, and the sky is bright outside. While the rest of the world unravels, we see growth in Nigeria. We are seeing a gradual return to stability. We are seeing improvements. I thank you, governors,” President Tinubu said.
He pledged to continue working assiduously with other arms of government to ensure the greater good for Nigerians and commended APC governors and executives for their continued and unwavering commitment.
“I’m grateful to all Nigerians for the electoral successes recorded from one state to the other. Governors, you have embraced these changes, and I thank the leadership of our party. I also thank members of the National Assembly for expeditiously considering the budget. We can only build the party on a progressive platform to deliver good service to Nigerians,” he said.
Commending the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) for its performance, President Tinubu said the committee “is doing a very good job; I am pleased with them. However, there are a few conflicts in the various states. Let’s set up committees to look into the lingering problems in the states and appeal to these party leaders in various states to please be calm and be collaborative.”
On his part, Ganduje said his leadership inherited a whooping N8.987 billion liabilities, including cost of legal engagements during the pre-election matters, election cases and appeals for legislative, governorship and presidential elections.
“Though the journey has been very challenging for us as a ruling party, given the big task we have at hand and the expectations from Nigerians, we can sufficiently submit that we have collectively risen to the occasion and challenges,” he said.
It is instructive that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, had in December last year advised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other northern politicians to abandon thoughts of taking over the presidency in 2027.
According to Akume, if God ordains Atiku to become president, he can still achieve his goal at the age of 90. Urging the North to wait until 2031, Akume warned that any move contrary to this would destabilise the country.
Speaking during an interview on TVC’s Politics on Sunday, the SGF reiterated his appeal for restraint, stressing the importance of unity and stability in the country. He cautioned against prioritising personal ambitions over Nigeria’s hard-earned peace and progress, advocating adherence to an informal rotational arrangement that fosters inclusiveness and equity.
The SGF noted that his position stems from historical precedents and agreements made during critical moments in the nation’s history. He cited past political meetings, including the one in Kaduna, as pivotal in fostering the understanding necessary to maintain national harmony.
Blueprint congratulates President Tinubu and Ganduje for winning the confidence of the highest decision-making organ of their party. This gesture underscores the goodwill the president enjoys within the rank and file of the ruling party. It is also an endorsement of the policies and programmes of the Tinubu renewed hope administration towards a more prosperous and developed nation. We are of the conviction that the president will strive to justify the vote of confidence as his government consolidates on its socio-political and economic reforms.
It is also pertinent to commend the APC hierarchy for avoiding the pitfall of the main opposition Peoples Democratic (PDP) by sticking to its zoning agreement. The PDP had lost its 16-year hold on power to the then newly formed APC in 2015 when it jettisoned its zoning principle by fielding President Goodluck Jonathan, a southerner, instead of a northern presidential candidate. This has created a deep-seated crisis, divisions, and acrimony that have continued to rock the party unabated.