The race to fill the vacant position of National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially begun, following the resignation of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
The APC chairmanship seat became vacant on Friday following Ganduje’s formal resignation and handover to the Deputy National Chairman (North), Alhaji Ali Bukar Dalori, who has assumed the role in an acting capacity. According to the party’s constitution, electing a substantive chairman will require a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, which mandates a minimum of 14 days’ notice unless summoned as an emergency session. …CONTINUE READING
Key political figures from the North-Central region have emerged as early contenders, including former governors Senator Umar Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa), Senator Joshua Dariye (Plateau), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), as well as Senators Solomon Ewuga and Sani Musa.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief George Akume, is also being strongly tipped for the position, although recent reports about his appointment were denied by the presidency.
According to The Nation, presidential aide Bayo Onanuga debunked claims of Akume’s alleged elevation to APC chairman, clarifying that President Bola Tinubu, who is currently on a diplomatic tour in Saint Lucia, has made no new appointments. He accused mischief-makers of spreading false news.
North-Central leaders and groups have quickly mobilized to demand that the position be returned to their region. Two key regional groups the States Youth Leaders’ Forum of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the North-Central APC Forum — have renewed their call for the chairmanship to remain in the zone.
Prince Sani Ogu Salisu, coordinating chairman of the CPC Youth Forum, emphasized that giving the role to a North-Central candidate would reflect the APC’s commitment to inclusivity and fair representation. He singled out Senator Al-Makura as the best fit, citing his political experience and capacity to unify the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Similarly, the North-Central APC Forum, led by Saleh Zazzaga, argued that the region had been previously shortchanged when Ganduje, from the North-West, was appointed to succeed Senator Abdullahi Adamu. Zazzaga said that although the group had suspended its opposition to Ganduje’s leadership for party unity, it had now resumed its advocacy to correct the imbalance. He stressed that the North-Central deserves recognition for its electoral contributions to Tinubu’s victory in 2023, delivering over 1.76 million votes — the third-highest nationally.
The forum further highlighted that APC currently governs five of the six states in the zone — Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, and Niger — and possesses a pool of capable leaders ready to drive the party forward.
Ganduje, who was commended for his role in securing defections and expanding the APC’s electoral reach, officially passed the baton to Dalori during a handover ceremony in Abuja. Meanwhile, APC governors under the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) welcomed his resignation, describing it as part of the party’s natural evolution and a step toward renewal and inclusivity.
As the party prepares for the NEC meeting to select a substantive national chairman, North-Central stakeholders are intensifying lobbying efforts, framing the moment as a chance to restore balance and justice within the APC power structure.
