Although the North Central geopolitical zone is expected to retain the top job based on the party’s zoning formula, youth leaders and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have shown their strong support for Abdullahi Ganduje, the former governor of Kano State, as the next national chairman of the party.
This support comes from the Coalition of North Central Youth Leaders and Stakeholders, which firmly backs Ganduje as the preferred choice of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and governors within the party. Despite the office of the national chairman being zoned to their region, the North Central leaders have decided to relinquish their claim in favor of Ganduje, who hails from the North West. On Thursday, the coalition’s convener, Okpokwu Ogenyi, announced the decision during a press conference held in Abuja.
He stated: “We, the people of North Central, have occupied the national chairmanship position of all ruling parties in the Country and have done well in terms of party administration. We are proud to say that a chairman from the zone led the party to victory in the last presidential election.
“Today, our father, who was the National Chairman of the APC, has resigned from his position, thereby making the post vacant. As you may be aware, there is no vacuum in governance, so a competent hand must be employed in order to carry our party forward.
“It is on this note that we wholeheartedly endorse Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as the National Chairman of our great Party, APC. Abdullahi Ganduje is a party man who has distinguished himself as an intellectual of high repute.
“As North Central Youths, one may be tempted to ask why we should not clamor for the position to be retained in the zone. The truth is, we have contributed our quota and wish other zones would also be given the opportunity to participate in the Party’s administration. We, the North Central people, are far above trivialities, greed, and selfishness when it comes to the national interest.”
Ogenyi emphasized that the youth leaders firmly believe that under Ganduje’s leadership, the APC will effectively support the implementation of President Tinubu’s blueprint, ultimately benefiting the Nigerian populace.
In urging other stakeholders from the North Central and different zones to respect President Tinubu’s choice of Ganduje as the next national chairman, Ogenyi asserted that the North Central people prioritize the national interest above all else, transcending trivial concerns, greed, and selfishness.
They hold the strong conviction that Dr. Ganduje is the most suitable candidate for the position at this crucial moment. He highlighted Ganduje’s impressive eight-year tenure as the governor of Kano State, during which he demonstrated commendable performance. Kano, under Ganduje’s leadership, became a prominent example of development not only in Nigeria but also in Africa as a whole.
“We are optimistic that APC under Ganduje shall complement the implementation of President Tinubu’s blueprint for the benefit of Nigerians.”
