Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday held a crucial meeting in Lagos, as internal consultations intensified ahead of the party's governorship primaries scheduled for next month. The governors, operating under the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), first paid a visit to President Bola Tinubu at his Ikoyi residence, where they congratulated him on his recent state visit ot the United Kingdom and the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.
Following the visit, the governors converged on Eko Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island for a high-level meeting focused on party cohesion and national issues, although attendance was still building late into the evening, with 21 of the 31 governors present as of 9:40 p.m.
The meeting, presided over by Imo State Governor and PGF Chairman Hope Uzodimma and hosted by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, placed significant emphasis on ensuring a rancour-free and credible conduct of the party’s forthcoming primaries.
A wide array of APC governors attended the session, reflecting the party’s effort to consolidate internal consensus amid rising political activity across states and within its ranks.
At the end of deliberations, the forum issued a communiqué reaffirming its collective support for President Tinubu’s reform agenda, pledging to align state-level policies with federal initiatives to accelerate economic recovery, strengthen security, and improve citizens’ welfare.
According to the communiqué signed by Uzodimma, discussions centred on national development priorities, the responsibilities of subnational governments, and the need to translate ongoing reforms into “visible improvements” in the lives of Nigerians.
The governors disclosed that their earlier meeting with the President covered key national concerns, including security, economic renewal, infrastructure development, and social welfare, while also acknowledging his efforts to address insecurity through domestic and international collaboration.
They further noted that Tinubu’s recent engagement in the United Kingdom formed part of a broader strategy of security and development diplomacy, aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s global partnerships.
While backing ongoing economic reforms, the forum stressed that their effectiveness must be judged by tangible outcomes, warning that emerging global tensions, particularly conflicts in the Gulf region, could heighten inflationary pressures through disruptions in energy and supply chains.
To cushion these potential shocks, the governors resolved to deepen collaboration in food production, expand support for micro, small and medium enterprises, and promote youth-focused economic initiatives, alongside scaling up palliative measures and targeted interventions for vulnerable Nigerians.
