N’Central APC urges Tinubu to return chairmanship to zone
The North-Central All Progressives Congress Forum has called on President Bola Tinubu and other party leaders to ensure that the position of the party’s National Chairman returns to the region during Thursday’s National Executive Committee meeting.
The appeal was made in a statement signed on Tuesday by the forum’s chairman, Saleh Zazzaga.
The NEC meeting, scheduled for July 24, is expected to deliberate on key party issues, including the appointment of a substantive National Chairman to replace Abdullahi Ganduje, who resigned on June 27.
Zazzaga stressed that reinstating the position to the North-Central is the only fair and just decision, given the region’s historical role in the party.
“The North-Central has over the years played an important and strategic role in the progress and growth of the APC. Any decision contrary to returning the position of National Chairman to the region will amount to betrayal,” the statement read.
The forum argued that the region deserves the role based on the existing zoning arrangement and its contributions to the APC’s success.
It recalled that a former Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Adamu, became National Chairman in March 2022 when the slot was zoned to the North-Central.
However, Adamu resigned in July 2023, and Ganduje, from Kano State in the North-West, assumed the position in August 2023 before stepping down last month.
Currently, the Deputy National Chairman (North) from Borno State, Ali Dalori, serves in an acting capacity.
Highlighting the region’s electoral performance, the forum noted that the North-Central delivered the third-highest votes for Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.
“Among the various geopolitical zones, the North-Central has the highest number of APC governors. APC controls five of the six North-Central states—Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, and Niger. Returning the chairmanship to the region is not a favour; it is well deserved,” the statement added.
The forum also rejected calls by the All Progressives Stakeholders Forum for the extension of Dalori’s tenure as acting chairman.
It warned that allowing Dalori, from the North-East, to remain in office would amount to “robbing Peter to pay Paul.”
The forum dismissed fears that a leadership reshuffle could destabilize the party, arguing instead that appointing a chairman from the North-Central would “revitalize the APC and reinforce fairness and equity.”
“There are several capable personalities in the North-Central who can lead the party to greater heights. We appeal to President Bola Tinubu to choose any of them as National Chairman,” the forum concluded.
Source: Punch
