APC Chairmanship Tussle: North Central Suspends Ganduje Resignation Demand as NEC Convenes

The North Central of the All Progressives Forum has said it will be pending its agitation and demand seeking the removal of Abdullahi Ganduje as the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), as the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) is planning to meet soon.

The forum has been opposed to the appointment of Ganduje from onset, arguing that the position is for the North Central according to the party constitution of 2022 as amended.

However,  in a statement on Wednesday made available to newsmen on their plan to put their agitation on hold, the Chairman of the North Central APC Forum, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, said they are not opposed to Ganduje as a person, but that all they have been pursuing is the rights, privileges and democratic dividends of the region.

The Chairman explained that some peace and reconciliatory initiatives are also been made, and they will obliged as their overall intension is still for the progress of the party, the leadership as well as well as the NEC.

“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 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,” he said.

Zazzaga said it was a long judicial battle that they believed was going to be victorious, unfortunately, the court decided the case against them adding that they  were committed, dogged and resilient in pressing on.

“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,” he said.

The Chairman reiterated that they at the North Central APC Forum have unanimously agreed to step down thier 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,” he said.

He thanked all their teaming supporters from the region who kept the struggle alive, and  called on all Nigerians to continue to keep faith with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as all his reforms which are geared towards a better tomorrow.

Lateefah Ibrahim