The race to succeed Abdullahi Ganduje as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially begun, with top political heavyweights from the North-Central zone emerging as early front-runners.
Leading the list of contenders are former Nasarawa State Governor, Senator Umar Tanko Al-Makura; former Plateau Governor, Senator Joshua Dariye; former Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello; Senator Solomon Ewuga; and Senator Sani Musa of Niger East. Also speculated though unconfirmed is the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume.
Ganduje, a former Kano governor, stepped down on Friday, citing urgent health concerns. The APC subsequently appointed Deputy National Chairman (North), Ali Bukar Dalori, as Acting National Chairman pending the selection of a substantive replacement.
Amid rumours of Akume’s appointment, Presidential Spokesman Bayo Onanuga quickly dismissed the reports as “fake news,” clarifying that President Tinubu, currently on a foreign trip, has made no such decision.
Political groups from the North-Central zone, including the States Youth Leaders’ Forum of the defunct CPC and the North-Central APC Forum, have renewed calls for the chairmanship to return to the region in accordance with the party’s original zoning arrangement.
Prince Sani Ogu Salisu, Coordinator of the Youth Leaders’ Forum, declared Al-Makura as the best candidate to promote party unity and inclusivity.
Similarly, Saleh Zazzaga, Chairman of the North-Central APC Forum, called Ganduje’s exit a “chance to correct historical injustice,” recalling how the chairmanship was originally zoned to the region before Ganduje’s 2023 appointment disrupted the formula.
“The North-Central gave President Tinubu over 11.7 million votes, the third-highest by region. With APC governing five of six states in the zone, it is only just to return the chairmanship to us,” Zazzaga stated.
He noted the region has a pool of experienced leaders, including Al-Makura, Akume, and Sani Musa the latter playing a key role in the president’s tax reform agenda.
Ganduje formally handed over to Dalori on Saturday, but per Article 25.2 of the APC Constitution, the National Executive Committee (NEC) must give at least 14 days’ notice to convene a meeting for electing a new chairman, unless the National Working Committee (NWC) calls an emergency session, which requires three days’ notice.
The Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), meeting in Benin, Edo State, welcomed Ganduje’s resignation as a step in the APC’s internal reform process to strengthen its structure ahead of the 2027 elections.
As momentum builds, attention now shifts to President Tinubu and the NEC’s next move one that could determine whether the North-Central zone finally reclaims the party’s top leadership seat.
