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By Myke Agunwa
The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has renewed its agitation to produce the next national chairman of the party following the resignation of Abdullahi Ganduje.
Recall that the zone had earlier made a case to produce the party’s national chairman after the resignation of the former governor of Nasarawa State, Tanko Al’Makura.
Party stakeholders from the region insisted that Al-Makura’s replacement must come from the North Central to ensure continued regional balance, fairness, and adequate representation in the leadership structure of the APC.
They argue that since Al-Makura represented the zone before his resignation, his successor should also emerge from the same geo-political area in line with the principles of equity and internal party democracy.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Chairman of the forum, Saleh Zazzanga said the region should have initially produced the national chairman after the exit of Abdullahi Adamu.
He described Ganduje’s resignation as a “golden opportunity” for the party to correct what he termed an injustice.
Zazzaga, who served on the APC presidential campaign council during the 2023 general election, said the zone had earlier refrained from challenging Ganduje’s appointment in the interest of party unity.
“It is on record that the North-Central APC Forum has consistently advocated for adherence to the party’s zoning arrangement, which allocated the position of National Chairman to our region. We had insisted that the North-Central be allowed to complete the tenure of Senator Abdullahi Adamu, even taking legal steps to assert our position,” the statement reads.
“However, following the ratification of Ganduje’s appointment by the National Executive Committee (NEC), we suspended our agitation in the spirit of party unity and in recognition of the progress made under his leadership.”
The forum noted that under Ganduje’s leadership, the APC witnessed major defections into the party, including governors from Delta and Akwa Ibom states, as well as several senators and members of the house of representatives.
“Now that Ganduje has stepped aside, the party has a fresh opportunity to uphold fairness and equity by allowing the North-Central to produce the next National Chairman,” Zazzaga said.
The forum urged President Bola Tinubu to support the region’s quest and called on Ali Dalori, acting national chairman, who is from the north-east, to promptly convene a NEC meeting to elect a substantive chairman.
Ganduje, a former two-term governor of Kano state from the north-west, stepped down during the week, citing health reasons.