The North-Central All Progressives Congress Forum has urged President Bola Tinubu and other party stakeholders to allow the region to produce the next National Chairman of the APC, citing “fairness, justice, and equity” as key considerations.

This appeal follows the sudden resignation of Abdullahi Ganduje as National Chairman on Friday.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, the Forum’s Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, stressed the importance of the party “doing the right thing” by restoring the position of National Chairman to the North-Central region.

The Forum further called on President Tinubu to instruct the Acting National Chairman, Ali Dalori, to promptly convene a meeting of the National Executive Committee to ensure the emergence of a substantive National Chairman from the North-Central.

“It is on record that the North-Central APC Forum has long advocated for the party to honour the principles of the existing zoning arrangement, which allocated the position of National Chairman to the North-Central. We have argued that the region should be allowed to complete the tenure of former National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, even going to court to press our case.

“However, after the ratification of Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje’s appointment as National Chairman by the NEC in the overall interest of the party, we decided to suspend our agitation. This decision was influenced by the progress we observed in the party under Ganduje’s leadership, demonstrated by high-profile defections to the APC, including governors and members of the National Assembly.

“During Ganduje’s tenure as National Chairman, several governors, including those from Delta and Akwa Ibom states, defected to the APC. Additionally, numerous senators and members of the House of Representatives joined the party. High-profile opposition politicians also defected during his leadership,” the statement noted.

The Forum highlighted Ganduje’s accomplishments, including uniting the party and ensuring its stability at a time when major opposition parties were grappling with internal crises.

“Now that Ganduje has decided to step aside, it is only fair and just for the party to finally allow the North-Central to produce the National Chairman, ensuring fairness, justice, and equity.

“We appeal to President Bola Tinubu, whom we regard as a listening President, and other party stakeholders to support the emergence of a National Chairman from the North-Central. We also urge the Acting National Chairman to promptly convene an NEC meeting to elect a substantive National Chairman from the region.

“Ganduje’s resignation, though unfortunate, presents the party with a golden opportunity to address the injustices faced by the North-Central,” parts of the statement read.

The Forum argued that beyond the existing zoning arrangement, the North-Central region has demonstrated its electoral value. It gave President Tinubu and the APC the third-highest number of votes in the 2023 presidential election, trailing only the South-West and North-West.

Tinubu received 1,760,993 votes (41.3%) in the North-Central in 2023, while Peter Obi of the Labour Party garnered 1,415,557 votes (33.2%), and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured 1,025,178 votes (24.1%).

The Forum further observed that the North-Central boasts the highest number of APC governors among the geopolitical zones, underscoring the party’s strength in the region.

The APC governs five of the six North-Central states: Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, and Niger. Plateau State is under the PDP, though the Forum noted ongoing efforts to attract Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfwang to the APC.

The statement concluded by stressing that the North-Central possesses several capable individuals who could lead the APC to victory in the 2027 general election.

“We are not demanding the position of National Chairman as a mere entitlement. The North-Central has capable leaders who can ensure the APC’s success in the 2027 elections. Allowing the region to produce the National Chairman will not only rectify past injustices but also ensure that the party continues on its path of progress and strength. We urge party stakeholders to act promptly and decisively to ensure fairness,” the statement added. (The PUNCH)