Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

The National Executive Council meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) called by the Acting National Chairman of the party, Victor Giadom, held on Thursday at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja.

President Muhammadu Buhari participated and presided over the meeting which kicked off at 12:00 noon, alongside Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmed Lawan, Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila and 15 governors in attendance.

Other attendees included APC National Deputy Chairman Lawal Shuaibu, Deputy Senate President Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Ahmed Idris Wase, House Majority Leader Hassan Dogowa, Senate Chief Whip Orji Uzor Kalu, and the Deputy Chief Whip, House of Representatives, Rt Hon Nnenna Ukeje.

Governors in attendance were Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Abubakar Bello (Niger), Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa), Mai-Mala Buni (Yobe), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) and Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna).

The early arrivals were governors of Nasarawa, Niger, Jigawa, Yobe, Plateau, Kogi, Imo, Gombe, Osun, Ogun, Lagos, Kwara, Ekiti, Kano and Kebbi.

Giadom was the first to arrive for the meeting as he was sighted at the venue as early as 8:30 am alongside the National Deputy Chairman-North of the APC, Lawal Shuaibu.

Other attendees apart from those present at the Presidential Villa participated virtually.

The pro-Oshiomhole group at the venue consisted of Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, the Deputy Majority Leader of House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Peterson Akpatason and Senator Ajayi Boroface.