N/Central Eyes Ganduje’s Position As Kogi, Benue, Nasarawa, Others Push For Chairmanship

All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders from the North-Central zone have intensified calls for the region to get the chairmanship slot following the sudden resignation of the National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Ganduje.

Naijaonpoint recalls that Ganduje stepped down from the role on Friday amid mounting pressure from influential party members.

These members have argued that the North-Central zone was sidelined when the Kano-born politician took over from Senator Abdullahi Adamu in August 2023.

The APC Deputy National Chairman (North), Bukar Dalori, assumed office as the acting national chairman and is expected to preside over the affairs of the ruling party till December.

While no official announcement has been made by the APC, the resignation has rekindled agitation from states including Benue, Nasarawa, and Kogi, where party leaders insist that the chairmanship rightfully belongs to their zone.

Despite internal divisions, both factions of the APC in Benue State agreed on one thing, the North-Central should produce the next national chairman.

Daniel Ihomun, spokesperson for the Austin Agada-led faction loyal to SGF George Akume, told The PUNCH that the national chairmanship of APC was originally zoned to the North-Central.

He stated that the issue of zoning it back to the North-Central will be address as soon as President Bola Tinubu returns from his state visit to Saint Lucia and Brazil

Similarly, James Orgunga, spokesperson for the group aligned with Governor Hyacinth Alia, echoed the sentiment, stating that the zoning principle favours the North-Central and should be upheld.

Amid the clamour for regional equity, the APC Forum in Nasarawa State has thrown its weight behind former Governor Tanko Al-Makura as a potential replacement for Ganduje.

The endorsement came in a statement issued in Abuja by the Forum’s Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, who noted that consultations had been held across the North-Central.

“After extensive deliberations among stakeholders in the North-Central region, the North-Central APC Forum has decided to endorse Senator Tanko Al-Makura for the position of APC National Chairman,” the statement read.

“This is in furtherance of our demand that the position of National Chairman should return to the North-Central in line with the APC’s zoning arrangement.”

Also speaking, Kogi State APC chairman, Abdullah Bello, said he would be happy if the chairmanship position was awarded to the North-Central.

“If the position is given to the North Central, which is my zone, I will be happy but the decision to do that does not rest with me or members in Kogi State but with the President, who reserves the privilege of nominating a candidate of his choice for ratification by the Central Working Committee of the party.

“It’s not a question about whether or not I support the calls, of course, I will be happy if the zone gets it, but it’s not for me as the state chairman to decide,” he said

In Kwara, APC Chairman Sunday Fagbemi refrained from naming any preferred candidate.

He stated that the National Working Committee (NWC) should be trusted to decide what is best for the party.

According to him, they know what is good for the party and what will bring peace to the APC.

Across the North-West, APC state chapters have largely chosen to defer to the party’s national leadership.

Kaduna APC Chairman, Air Commodore Emmanuel Jekada (retd.), emphasized that “the leader of the party decides.”

He noted that if they want to follow the Constitution, “it’s there. But leaders often decide where it works best for them.”

Sokoto APC Chairman, Isa Achida, echoed similar views, stating, “We are very comfortable with the decision of the party at the national level.”

The Kebbi and Zamfara chapters also affirmed their commitment to the party’s eventual decision, with the Zamfara spokesperson, Yusuf Idris, remarking, “We are ready to accept whoever is going to succeed him, provided such a person will promote peaceful coexistence.”

Alhaji Alhassan Yaryasa, a chieftain of the APC and former coordinator of the Tinubu Campaign Organisation for Kano South, applauded Ganduje’s resignation.

He alleged a plot to disgrace him out of office if he had refused to agree with what the Presidency wanted.

“We knew there was a plan to bring Senator Rabi’u Kwankwaso into the APC and possibly be running mate of President Bola Tinubu in 2027. Whatever the case may be, the decision taken by Ganduje to resign is the best option for him before they disgrace him out of office,” he said.

Yaryasa said the former APC national chairman deserved to be respected and commended for strengthening the party at both the state and national levels.

“Don’t forget Ganduje was able to bring key politicians from other parties into the APC, such as senators and Reps members who recently defected from other parties and joined the APC. So, he should leave the position honourably before they force him to resign and disgrace him,” he said.