• Presidency reviews ticket, information management amid internal pressure
• PGF pledges unity, grassroots engagement nationwide
• NWC zoning decision awaits Tinubu’s return from Turkiye, sources say
• Ndume: Unresolved northern grievances could shape voting patterns

Fresh moves by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to swap key party offices across geopolitical zones emerged yesterday as Senator Ali Ndume cautioned that unresolved grievances in the North may reflect in voting patterns, piling pressure on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and party leaders.

Barring any last-minute change of strategy, the ruling APC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have finalised arrangements to strengthen the party’s leadership structure and introduce some reforms at the Presidency.

The Guardian learnt from reliable sources that, apart from the offices of the national chairman and vice chairman, all other positions on the APC National Working Committee (NWC) are to be swapped across geopolitical zones to ensure regional spread and accommodate the interests of state governors who recently joined the party.

It was also gathered that, despite recent assertions by the Minister of Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, some reviews have been programmed regarding the presidential ticket and information management at the Presidency.

This came as the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), headed by the Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma, declared its preparedness to work with the national leadership of the party to provide responsible leadership communication and collective discipline in strengthening public confidence in the party’s democratic processes.

In a communiqué released after its extraordinary meeting at the Imo State Governor’s Lodge, the governors restated their “commitment to deepening internal democracy, strengthening party structures, and advancing reforms that promote transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness within the APC across all levels of the federation.”

Apart from reviewing and endorsing the proposed timelines and operational framework for the forthcoming ward, local government, state and zonal congresses, as well as the national convention earlier approved by the National Executive Committee (NEC), the PGF stressed the imperatives of transparent and coordinated financial management in the conduct of congresses and conventions.

According to the forum, the steps are crucial to “ensuring fairness, consistency, and accountability across all states, including those without APC-governed administrations,” even as it disclosed plans to commence strategic engagements and state visits aimed at reinforcing grassroots structures, beginning from Taraba State.

However, checks by The Guardian revealed that the issue of swapping NWC positions among the six geopolitical zones had been stepped down pending President Tinubu’s return from his official trip to Turkiye.

A member of the NWC confided in The Guardian that altering the zoning of party functionaries has been left for the President’s input, affirming the likelihood of the presidential running mate moving to the North West and the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) going to the North East.

“These likely movements made it imperative that Mr President, who insisted on Prof Nentawe Yilwatda remaining the chairman, should apply his wisdom and political sagacity to distribute other positions in collaboration with the governors.

“It is only when the President returns that we will know which positions are going to be swapped between North and South and their micro-zones. The party wants to ensure a seamless harmonisation of positions with recently defected governors,” he stated.

Ndume warns of northern discontent, says Tinubu poorly served by inner circle
Meanwhile, Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South, has warned of growing dissatisfaction in the North, saying failure to address the “grumbling” could have electoral consequences.

Ndume sounded the warning on Wednesday during an interview on ARISE Television’s Prime Time, where he also criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s inner circle, alleging that the President is being poorly served by advisers who lack political understanding and grassroots connection.

“Anybody that tells you that the North is not grumbling now is not telling the truth,” Ndume said.

“It will be loud in their votes if nothing is done about it. The good thing about it is that the President can turn things around.”

He said northern elders had made efforts to engage the President, adding that he was involved in meetings between Tinubu and leaders from the region.

“In the North, northern elders have been reaching out. I was part of the first and the last meetings with Mr President when northern elders went to him,” he said.

“He was prepared. He brought all the critical appointees from the North, and we had a wonderful session.”

According to Ndume, despite assurances from the President, the engagement process stalled shortly afterwards.

“He promised that it would continue, but it never happened,” he said.

While absolving Tinubu of direct blame, the lawmaker argued that the President’s challenges stem largely from the calibre of people around him, contrasting the current situation with Tinubu’s time as governor of Lagos State.

“The President had good people around him when he was governor of Lagos; that was why he succeeded,” Ndume said. “Most of the good people are not there now. They have been sidelined.”

Ndume further criticised some presidential aides for what he described as elitist isolation and a lack of national outlook.

“He just picked people that don’t know anybody,” he said. “They only know Ikoyi and Victoria Island. And from there, they fly to London or America, where their families are living.

“Instead of bringing in his team that would look him in the face and tell him the truth, he decided to surround himself with people who don’t know politics.”