PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday promised to work harder for the country after the vote of confidence passed in him by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“I am happy with your vote of confidence, and I accept it.
“It is a challenge to do more work; we will vigorously pursue our sovereignty in food security, investment and development,” he told party leaders.
The 13th NEC meeting at the party’s National Secretariat in the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) was preceded by the National Caucus meeting on Tuesday night hosted at the State House by the President.
The NEC is the second-highest organ of the party after the national convention.
It takes major decisions for the party in between conventions.
Also at the meeting presided over by the National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, were Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen, members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and former Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande.
The meeting was the second to be held under the Tinubu Administration and the first under Ganduje as chairman.
It was a brainstorming session where the NEC reviewed the party activities in the last 20 months and evolved strategies for resolving mounting challenges.
President Tinubu urged the party to intensify efforts on reconciliation to end conflicts.
A seven-man panel chaired by Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni was set up to review the NEC membership to expand the structure.
Also, after passing a vote of confidence in Ganduje and the Progressive Governors’ Forum led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, the NEC resolved to zone the party’s national chairmanship to the Northwest.
The decision may foreclose the agitation for the slot by the Northcentral APC.
Ganduje hails from Kano in the Northwest.
NEC also approved the audited financial statements for 2022 and 2023, ratified the 2024 budget and approved the 2025 budget.