North-Central APC stakeholders jostle over National Chairmanship slot

Following the resignation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, on Friday, strong calls have emerged from the North-Central region demanding the return of the party’s national chairmanship position to their zone.

Ganduje’s exit, which came after months of quiet agitation, has reopened conversations about zoning arrangements within the ruling party.

Although no official statement has been issued on where the chairmanship seat will go, insiders suggest Ganduje had been under intense pressure from North-Central stakeholders, who argued that the seat rightly belonged to their region.

Recall that Senator Abdullahi Adamu, who hails from Nasarawa State in the North-Central, held the position before resigning in July 2023, making way for Ganduje’s appointment.

With Ganduje’s resignation, APC Deputy National Chairman (North), Bukar Dalori, has stepped in as acting chairman and is expected to hold the reins until December.

In Benue State, both factions of the APC, one loyal to Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and the other to Governor Hyacinth Alia, agreed the position should return to the North-Central.

Daniel Ihomun, spokesperson for the Akume camp, said the party leadership is expected to act once the President returns. Likewise, James Orgunga, representing the Alia faction, insisted the chairmanship belongs to the North-Central, based on the party’s original zoning formula.

Meanwhile, the APC Forum in Nasarawa State, led by Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, has thrown its weight behind former Nasarawa Governor, Senator Tanko Al-Makura, endorsing him as the region’s preferred candidate for the national chairmanship.

Kogi State APC Chairman, Abdullahi Bello, also expressed hope that the position would come to the North-Central but admitted the final decision lies with the President and the party’s leadership.

While leaders from other Northern states including Kwara, Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara and Kano maintained that they would abide by the party’s national leadership decision, some like Alhaji Alhassan Yaryasa in Kano suggested Ganduje’s resignation preempted a planned move by the presidency to bring Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso into the APC ahead of the 2027 elections. Yaryasa commended Ganduje’s decision, describing it as a wise move to avoid public humiliation.

As consultations intensify, North-Central APC stakeholders remain hopeful that the party will respect its zoning arrangement and restore the national chairmanship to their region in the interest of equity and internal cohesion.