BY JOY ODOR
The coast may have been cleared for the incumbent National chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)
Abdulahi Umar Ganduje as the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) has zoned the office of the next national chairman to his North west zone
This is even as the NEC has similarly weathered the storm as he received a vote of confidence that has completely rested the agitations by the North central stakeholders of the party, who had earlier accused the former Kano state governor of occupying the seat which was originally zones to them
Before the development, the position had been zoned to the North-central. However, Abdullahi Ganduje, from Kano State in the North-west, was appointed the APC national chairman after the ex-governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Adamu, was removed without completing his tenure.
The North west endorsement happened during the National Executive Committee, NEC meeting attended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the party’s National Headquarters in Abuja which saw party leaders affirm their unwavering support.
They reinforced their support for his administration’s policies on governance, economy, and party unity.
The APC leadership also celebrated high-profile defections from opposition parties, strengthening the party’s national footprint.
In his address, the National Chairman of the party Abdullahi Umar expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him and reassured members of his commitment to delivering on the party’s progressive agenda.
He informed that the decentralized campaign model had yielded victories in Imo, Kogi, and Edo, while lessons were learned from the Bayelsa experience.
“I appreciate the confidence you have placed in my leadership. We will continue to ensure that our party remains a vehicle for national development and stability,” Tinubu said.
He highlighted economic gains under his administration, including improvements in food security and declining inflation.
The meeting also reviewed APC’s electoral strategies, with Ganduje outlining the party’s successes and areas for improvement.
“We are focusing on the upcoming Anambra elections and will continue to refine our grassroots mobilization approach,” Ganduje added.
In his turned to speak, Ganduje provided an update on the APC Progressive Institute, a training hub for party members, which has now been fully registered with relevant authorities.
He also highlighted financial burdens inherited by the current National Working Committee (NWC), including legal debts amounting to N8.99 billion. He called for NEC’s support in addressing these liabilities.
APC National Chairman emphasized the party’s commitment to ideological consistency and capacity building, reiterated the need for a new national secretariat.
He confirmed that an application for land has been submitted to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and urged President Tinubu’s intervention to expedite the process.
Accepting their fate however, the North-Central APC stakeholders passed a similar vote of confidence on President Bola Tinubu and the party’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.
They added that following the party’s National Executive Committee meeting held on Wednesday, it has ended all agitations over leadership positions in the
The North-central APC Forum, which agitated for the zone to be allowed to complete Adamu’s tenure, had gone to court to seek Ganduje’s removal as national chairman.
However, the APC Forum suspended the demand for Ganduje’s removal, pending the decision of the party’s NEC.
With the ratification of zoning of the national chairmanship to the North-West, Ganduje’s position has been validated by the NEC.
Reacting in a statement on Thursday, chairman of the APC North central stakeholders, Saleh Zazzaga, said the forum has decided to drop all agitations and align with the position of the party’s national leadership.
The North-Central APC forum added that it would support Ganduje in reconciling aggrieved members of the party.
The statement reads, “As loyal party members interested in the progress of the APC, we agree with all the decisions taken at the NEC meeting. We endorse the vote of confidence passed on President Bola Tinubu and the national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje.
“The NEC is the highest decision-making organ of the party and the NEC has passed a vote of confidence on the national chairman. We respect the decision of Mr President and the NEC. As a result of that, we have decided to stop all agitations concerning the leadership and other issues in the APC.
“We are urging all members of the party to support President Bola Tinubu and the national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje. We also seek the support of all North-Central stakeholders for the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume as the leader of the party in the zone.
“We recognize Senator Akume as our father in the North-Central. Having decided to stop all agitations, there is nothing left than to unite ourselves in the interest of the zone and to give massive support to President Bola Tinubu in all his policies and in future elections
