Why APC govs held marathon meeting with Tinubu — Gov Sule

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has revealed that the recent meeting between state governors and President Bola Tinubu in Lagos focused on tackling urgent security issues and finalising preparations for the forthcoming All Progressives Congress (APC) national convention.

Sule made the clarification while speaking in Abuja on Monday during his investiture as Patron of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR). He apologised to the people of Nasarawa for relocating the ceremony from Lafia to Abuja, explaining that an intense schedule made travelling impractical.

According to him, governors met with President Tinubu in Lagos on Sunday, first at a private lunch and then in a marathon strategy session.

“We had a lengthy meeting, especially on security, which we presented before the President. Afterwards, governors held our usual late-night meeting on the APC convention. It lasted until after 2 a.m.,” he said.

The tight schedule, he added, forced him to request that the NIPR event be moved to Abuja.

The gathering of APC governors in Lagos, earlier reported by The PUNCH, was part of high-level consultations ahead of next month’s governorship primaries. The meeting, held at Eko Hotel, followed a stopover at President Tinubu’s residence in Ikoyi.

Twenty-one governors attended the session presided over by Imo State Governor and Progressive Governors’ Forum Chairman, Hope Uzodimma, with Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as host.

Those present included governors Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Bassey Otu (Cross River), Agbu Kefas (Taraba), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Monday Okpebholo (Edo), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), Usman Ododo (Kogi), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Abba Yusuf (Kano), Umaru Bago (Niger), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Namadi Umar (Jigawa), Dikko Radda (Katsina) and Douye Diri (Bayelsa).

At the NIPR event, Governor Sule spoke about the importance of leadership and innovation to national progress, describing the institute as an organisation he greatly admires.

He recalled receiving the NIPR Leadership Prize during its 60th anniversary, noting that the award stood out because it recognised measurable performance rather than routine political accolades.

NIPR President, Ike Neliaku, praised Sule’s leadership qualities and his commitment to supporting the institute, describing the governor as a “leader of considerable vision and foresight.”

Neliaku also highlighted improvements in Nasarawa State’s governance perception ratings. He noted that after drawing the governor’s attention to a low 2024 score of 30.4%, Sule took corrective actions that saw the rating rise dramatically to 83.6% in 2026.

“Your Excellency did exactly what you promised to do,” Neliaku said, commending the governor’s humility and responsiveness.

The ceremony concluded with renewed calls for strengthening public relations practice to support national development.