North-Central APC Urges Tinubu to Return Party Chairmanship to Region
The North-Central All Progressives Congress Forum has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the party’s leadership to restore the position of National Chairman to the region, ahead of the APC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for Thursday, July 24.
The call was made in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Forum’s Chairman, Saleh Zazzaga, who described the move as essential for equity and party unity.
The NEC meeting is expected to address several critical matters, including the appointment of a substantive National Chairman following the resignation of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on June 27.
Zazzaga emphasized that returning the chairmanship to the North-Central is both a just and strategic decision, given the region’s longstanding contributions to the APC.
“The North-Central has consistently played a vital and strategic role in the growth and stability of the APC,” the statement read. “Denying the region the chairmanship would amount to betrayal and disregard for fairness.”
The Forum cited the party’s historical zoning arrangement, under which former Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Adamu was appointed National Chairman in March 2022, representing the North-Central zone. His resignation in July 2023 led to Ganduje’s appointment, shifting the chairmanship to the North-West.
With Ganduje’s departure, Ali Dalori, the Deputy National Chairman (North) from Borno State, is currently serving in an acting capacity.
Zazzaga argued that any attempt to retain the position in the North-East—Dalori’s region—would be unjust, stating:
“Such a move would be akin to robbing Peter to pay Paul. It would not only disrupt the zoning balance but also undermine the trust and loyalty of North-Central stakeholders.”
He also highlighted the region’s political strength, noting that the North-Central delivered the third-highest number of votes for President Tinubu in the 2023 election, and currently boasts the highest number of APC governors among all geopolitical zones, controlling five of six states: Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, and Niger.
“Returning the chairmanship to the region is not a favour—it is earned,” the statement asserted.
The Forum rejected recent calls by the All Progressives Stakeholders Forum to extend Dalori’s tenure, warning that such a decision could alienate a key bloc within the party and potentially trigger unrest.
Zazzaga maintained that the North-Central has several credible and experienced leaders capable of steering the party forward.
“There is no shortage of competent individuals from the region who can lead the APC into its next chapter. We appeal to President Tinubu to act in the spirit of fairness, inclusion, and party unity by appointing a substantive National Chairman from the North-Central.”
The statement concludes as the party’s NEC prepares to make critical decisions that could shape its internal dynamics ahead of the 2027 elections.