From Jumoke Orintunsin – Abuja
The race to fill the vacant position of the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has begun barely less than 24 hours Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje resigned from the office.
The North Central region branch of the party looks set to fill the position as contenders have begun the race early.
The former Kano State governor and the 6th APC National Chairman,it will be recalled resigned from office on Friday, citing the need to take care of some personal matters after being at the party’s saddle for 22 months.
The resignation of Ganduje was confirmed in a statement by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, on Friday night.
Morka also announced the appointment of the Deputy National Chairman (North), Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori as the acting National Chairman of the party pending the appointment of the substantive officer by the National Executive Committee (NEC) in December.
Newdawnngr.com gathered that the development had however unearthed the agitation by leaders of the party from the North Central geopolitical zone to have the office of the National Chairman reversed to the zone, in line with the 2022 zoning formula of the party ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
The zone lost the exalted seat to the North West following the resignation of Senator Abdullahi Adamu as the 5th National Chairman in 2023 and the emergent of Ganduje on the 3rd of August 2023 at the 12th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja.
Despite the opposition by some groups from the North Central zone to Ganduje’s appointment, the last February NEC meeting of the party reaffirmed the appointment and zoning of the office of the party’s National Chairman to the North West.
It was also gathered that some leaders are jostling for the retention of the exalted office in the North West, claiming that the office had been zoned to the region by the party’s NEC at its February 25th meeting in Abuja.
Our reporter however gathered that with Ganduje’s resignation, some party leaders from North Central have gone back to the trenches with a new wave of agitation for the region to have the seat back.
At the last count, no fewer than 5 names from the region are being touted to be eyeing the party’s highest administrative office.
Topping the list of those fingered for the party’s highest office is the former governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Umar Tanko Al-Makura. Others are former governor of Plateau State, Senator Joshua Dayire, former Kogi State governor. Yahaya Bello, Senator Solomon Ewuga, and Senator Sani Musa, who currently represent Niger East Senatorial district in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
From the North West geopolitical zone, the name of Senator Abu Ibrahim, of the 5th assembly from Katsina state, is being fingered as the likely successor of Ganduje
Ibrahim, a trusted ally of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is of the stock of defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the deputy minority chief whip of the senate between 2011 and 2015. He was also a critical stakeholder in merger negotiations between CPC and Action Congress and was an intermediary between Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the CPC.
The push for Senator Al-Makura, who was the only CPC governor during the 2014 merger that gave birth to APC, is being spareheaded by some CPC elements in APC and some support groups from the North Central zone.
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Making case for the North Central and Al-Makura, the Coordinating Chairman of the States Youth Leaders’ Forum of the defunct CPC and former Kogi State Hon. Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Prince Sani Ogu Salisu, in a statement in Abuja on Saturday, appealed to the party leadership to return the vacant position to the North Central Zone
Ganduje,APC Chairman, resigns in controversial circumstances
He also advocated that the position be given to Nasarawa State, where it was previously zoned and micro-zoned before the last National Convention.
According to Ogu, “By giving the North Central Zone the opportunity to lead, the APC would be reaffirming its commitment to inclusivity and regional representation, which are critical for maintaining party harmony and achieving electoral victories.”
Ogu argued that Al-Makura, known for his leadership skills and political acumen, would be an ideal candidate for the position of National Chairman.
“Senator Al-Makura’s appointment would not only be a nod to the zoning principle but also a strategic move to ensure party cohesion and electoral success in 2027.
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