N’Central APC Fumes As Ganduje Intensifies Lobby For National Chairman

In his bid to emerge as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, has intensified lobbying by meeting party stakeholders.

Recall that Senator Abdullahi Adamu and Senator Iyiola Omisore had resigned as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.

Following their resignation, the North-Central zone of the ruling party has demanded the region retain the National Chairmanship position.

But Ganduje, who is from the North-West zone, has been visiting prominent party members to solicit support for his ambition.

The former governor has already secured the backing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF).

Speaking to The PUNCH, a source revealed the former governor met with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, on Sunday in Abuja.

This came hours after he had earlier met with Senator Aliyu Wamakko, a former governor of Sokoto State, in his Asokoro residence in Abuja on Saturday.

The source noted that the sessions were meant to lobby and inform the party chieftains of Ganduje’s desire to be the next chairman of the ruling party.

But in opposition to the move, North-Central zone APC chairpersons insisted that for fairness and equity, the chairmanship position should remain in their zone.

“Since it was unanimously zoned to the area during the party’s National Convention last year,” the party added.

Speaking on Sunday, the Nasarawa State Chairman of the APC, John Mamman, said: “All members of the All Progressives Congress in the country are aware that the national chairmanship position of our party was zoned to the North-Central during the National Convention.

“Now that the position is vacant and there won’t be another zoning but replacement, it is expected that we in the North-Central zone should retain the position for fairness and equity.

“As leaders of the North-Central, we (chairmen) are hoping that the party will leave the national chairmanship position for us because apart from that, we do not have any other top position in the country. So, we are appealing that the party and all our members should see reason with us why we should retain the position.”