The North Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has announced the suspension of its agitation and demand for the removal of Abdullahi Ganduje as the National Chairman of the APC ahead of the upcoming National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
The forum, which has long opposed Ganduje’s appointment, argued that the position should rightfully belong to the North Central region according to the party’s amended constitution of 2022.
Previously, the forum had engaged in various forms of protest, including demonstrations, press conferences, and consultations, and even took legal action by dragging Ganduje to a Federal High Court in Abuja in an attempt to nullify his appointment.
However, in a statement issued on Wednesday, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, Chairman of the North Central APC Forum, clarified that their opposition was not personal against Ganduje.
Zazzaga emphasized that peace and reconciliation efforts have been initiated, reflecting the forum’s commitment to the overall progress of the party and its leadership, as well as the upcoming NEC meeting.
He said, “It has been seven years since the formation of this great North Central APC Forum. Seven years of formidable struggle and agitation in defense of our geo-political zone. We have indeed led struggles for the political balance of our region and the Almighty Allah is gracious to us as a people.
“You may recall that, when the former National Chairman of our Party, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu resigned his position in 2023, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje was elected by the National Executive Committee, NEC as his replacement.
“Immediately after the announcement, we stood in defense of our region, insisted that, Abdullahi Adamu’s successor should have come from the North Central geo-political zone in line with the party’s constitution. We addressed press conferences, organized protests and instituted lawsuit against the national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje at a Federal High Court Abuja.
“It was a long judicial battle that we believe was going to be victorious, unfortunately, the court decided the case against us. We were committed, dogged and resilient in pressing on. Still we give glory to Allah for he knows all things.
“Let it be on record that we do not have personal issue against the person of Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, he is our national chairman.
“Our activism is based on our feelings that the national chairman should have been retained in the north central zone after the exit of Sen. Abdullahi Adamu.
“We have come to agreement that the NEC has all the powers to make decisions for our party including the zoning and elections into vacant positions of our party. We understand that it was NEC that elected Ganduje. More importantly is the fact that, another NEC is by the corner where further decisions will made to the advantage of party as we prepare towards 2027 general elections.
“We at the North Central APC Forum have unanimously agreed to step down our agitation pending the decision of the National Executive Committee of our party.
“This is inline with our principle of fairness, equity and justice in order not to cause unnecessary disaffection among political leaders from the North Central zone and other leaders of our party.
“We also believed that, by standing down at this time shall give the North Central geo-political zone the fair hearing at the NEC where our political leaders will have free hands to negotiate with the centre, some specific benefits which should be attracted to the zone.”