Leaders and Chieftains of the All Progressive Congress (APC) from the North Central region are insisting that the party’s chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, be replaced by someone from the North Central.
This is coming just as President Tinubu gave approval for the National Executive Council (NEC) and National Caucus meeting of the ruling party to be held on September 11 and 12.
Daily Trust reports that from their source they gathered that the president plans to seek NEC’s approval for Ganduje and the party secretary’s positions to be ratified at a non-elective convention scheduled for December.
“The president informed the leaders before his recent travel that the chairmanship issue would be addressed at the NEC, and he instructed them to ensure that the NEC meeting goes smoothly”.
Daily Trust reported that according to their source, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) persuaded Tinubu to set a date for the NEC meeting after raising concerns about potential legal challenges if Ganduje’s appointment wasn’t ratified by the NEC and the national convention within a specified time frame.
“The NWC expressed fear that any delay could create a legal vacuum, which opponents might exploit in court to challenge Ganduje’s position. Consequently, the president agreed on the NEC meeting and the December convention, firmly backing Ganduje during his discussions with party leaders,” he said.
The upcoming National Caucus and NEC meetings will be the first since Ganduje assumed the national chairmanship of the party.
APC stakeholders, especially from the North Central, are calling for the chairmanship position to return to their zone, they argue that Ganduje’s predecessor, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, a former governor of Nasarawa State, (North Central), was pressured to resign before the end of his tenure, and his replacement with Ganduje, who hails from the North West, had been met with protests. They also noted the party’s national secretary, who also resigned, was replaced by a candidate from the same region (South West), further fuelling discontent.
Among the leading voices for the chairmanship’s return to the North Central is the North Central APC Forum, led by Alhaji Saleh Mandung Zazzaga, Magana Bello, Ibrahim Muhammad Rabiu.
A member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) told Daily Trust, under the condition of anonymity, that only President Tinubu would ultimately determine Ganduje’s fate during the NEC meeting.
The member added that both former President Muhammadu Buhari and Tinubu have shown little respect for party organs, often bypassing them to achieve their goals.
“Some NEC members are unhappy with Ganduje’s emergence and his continued stay as national chairman, and they plan to raise the issue during the meetings,” the member said.
The source further commented, “When Adamu was forced to resign before the end of his tenure, the North Central should have been given the chance to fill the vacancy, but instead, someone from the North West was appointed.
“Mr. President remains supportive of Ganduje, so his fate will largely depend on Tinubu during the NEC meeting.”
Another NEC member, also speaking anonymously, criticised the decision to replace Adamu with a party stalwart from the North West and Omisore with a candidate from his region.
The member warned that as many as 50% of NEC members might stage a walkout if their concerns are not addressed.
He said, “50% of NEC members might stage a walkout on that day if care is not taken. Party members from the North Central are not happy at all.”
