Akume, Al-Makura, Dariye Intensify Campaign For APC Chair

Akume, Al-Makura, Dariye Intensify Campaign For APC Chair

As preparation for the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting draws nearer, aspirants jostling for the national chairman position have intensified their campaign for the top job.

The meeting holds on July 25 at Abuja.

Party sources disclosed that top contenders have been engaging and lobbying party leaders and members of the NEC to sway the position in their favour.

So far, the top contenders for the position include Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; former governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Umar Tanko Al-Makura, former governor of Plateau state, Senator Joshua Dariye, and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.

Others are a former Nasarawa North lawmaker, Senator Solomon Ewuga; a former Katsina South lawmaker, Senator Abu Ibrahim; a former Benue North East lawmaker, Senator Barnabas Gemade; Senator Sani Musa (Niger East); and a former APC national chairman aspirant, Mohammed Etsu.

The jostling for the office followed Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s resignation as APC national chairman in June.

APC national publicity secretary Felix Morka, who confirmed Ganduje’s resignation, said it would enable him to attend to urgent and critical personal matters.

Morka also said President Bola Tinubu had directed the APC deputy national chairman (North), Hon. Ali Dalori, to assume the position of acting national chairman pending the NEC meeting of the party to be summoned immediately to fill the vacancy created by the resignation.

On assumption of office, Dalori presided over the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) meeting, which approved July 24 as the date for the NEC meeting to pick a new national chairman.

Even before and after fixing the NEC meeting, political calculations about who would emerge as the substantive national chairman began, notably with renewed clamour for the North Central to reclaim the plum job.

Senator Abdullahi Adamu, a former governor of Nasarawa State in the North Central, had occupied the office until his resignation and the appointment of Ganduje in August 2023.

Odds Favour SGF Akume

One of the prominent politicians mentioned from the North Central geopolitical zone is Senator Akume, a former governor of Benue State and senator (2007-2019). During this time, he was Senate minority leader and minister of special duties and intergovernmental affairs.

The retired permanent secretary in Benue State, who presently occupies the position of SGF, also contested for the APC national chairman in 2022 but backed out after former President Muhammadu Buhari settled for Senator Adamu.

According to credible sources within the APC top echelons, Akume, a close ally of Tinubu whose present appointment is at the president’s behest, is being considered for the position for strategic reasons of trust and regional and religious balancing.

A high-ranking member of the APC, who does not want to be mentioned, said the president, who calls the shots as far as who becomes the next APC national chairman is concerned, is likely to nominate his “friend” and “confidant” for the position.

The source said that Akume may be considered above other politicians from North Central because of his antecedents and leadership acumen, having been local government chairman (sole administrator), permanent secretary, governor, Senator (minority leader), minister and now SGF.

“The odds are in favour of the SGF, Senator George Akume, whom the president has so much trust in, and that was how he appointed him SGF on a personal basis, no recommendation. Remember, Asiwaju always refers to him as ‘my friend Akume’. The whole thing is within the president’s decision, which may be for his friend (Akume).

“Apart from appealing to regional sentiments of returning to the seat in North Central, the issue of religion is crucial as it played out during the 2023 general election. So, to avoid giving the opposition another chance of referring to APC as an Islamic party, the choice of Akume, a knight in the Catholic Church, is another serious factor,” one of the sources said, pleading anonymity.

On whether the consideration of Akume for national chairman was to edge him and the region out of the corridors of power, a senior party chieftain asked, “What is SGF compared to a ruling party’s national chairman?

“Remember, in principle, the vice president is higher, but in principle, the national chairman of a ruling party is more powerful, influential and lucrative, if you want. All the governors, senators, ministers, and appointees, including the SGF you are talking about in the party, are under the authority of the national chairman.”

 Senator Al-Makura

Next in line is Al-Makura, a former governor, senator, and aspirant for the position of APC national chairman in 2022. He is part of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc that merged with others to form the APC in 2013.

Soon after Ganduje’s resignation, the CPC bloc started clamouring for the seat to be returned to North Central and Al-Makura specifically.

Sani Salisu, the coordinating chairman of the States Youth Leaders’ Forum of the defunct CPC, called on the APC leadership to return the vacant position of national chairman to the North Central Zone.

Salisu, a former Kogi State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, specifically canvassed for the position to be given to Nasarawa State. The position had been previously zoned and micro-zoned to the North Central before the last national convention.

On the sidelines of Ganduje’s resignation, he said Senator Al-Makura would be an ideal candidate for the position.

Salisu said, “Al-Makura’s appointment as national chairman would not only be a nod to the zoning principle but also a strategic move to ensure party cohesion and electoral success in 2027.

“The APC is currently at a crossroads, and the choice of its next national chairman will significantly impact its fortunes in the coming years.

“By allowing the North Central Zone to lead, the APC would reaffirm its commitment to inclusivity and regional representation, which are critical for maintaining party harmony and achieving electoral victories.”

 It’s President Tinubu’s Call

The source said, “The race is tight between Akume and Al-Makura. They are both former governors and have many friends who can swing things their way.

“But it’s ultimately the decision of the president.

“We are also mindful of the push by the CPC bloc to get the position and the need to give them a sense of belonging in the party, especially as the opposition coalition is building,’’ the source said.

Dariye

The argument for Dariye, a former governor of Plateau State and senator, is that he is an experienced politician who served at the same time with Tinubu as governor of Lagos State.

Senators Ewuga, Ibrahim

Those promoting Senators Ewuga and Ibrahim put forward a similar argument of political experience and closeness to Tinubu. The former Katsina lawmaker from the North West is a trusted ally of President Tinubu and was a critical stakeholder in merger negotiations between CPC and Action Congress of  Nigeria (ACN) and an intermediary between the parties.

Ex-Gov Bello, Sen Musa

Those pushing for Senator Sani Musa (Niger East), who also contested the position in 2022, and Yahaya Bello maintained that their youthful vigour and touch with current realities make them ideal candidates for the party going into the election in 2027.

Gemade

Campaigners for Senator Gemade, a former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),  said beyond being from North Central, he has the practical experience of leading a ruling party.

The chairman of Tarka local government area in Benue state, Raphael Yenge, speaking for Benue APC stakeholders, urged party leaders at all levels, particularly in the North-Central, to support Gemade.

Yenge wrote on his verified Facebook page: “Opposition to Benue’s bid based on the current SGF position is flawed. The SGF is a presidential appointment, while the APC chairmanship is subject to party zoning, and both can be held by individuals from the same state under federal character principles.

“Senator Gemade, a respected elder statesman, has vast political, administrative, and leadership experience, having served as Minister and Secretary of Works & Housing, two-time Senator, and national chairman of CNC and PDP.

“He has the vision, age advantage, and national goodwill to reposition and prepare the APC for 2027 and beyond.

“Benue APC stakeholders, therefore, strongly urge party leaders at all levels, particularly in the North-Central zone, to rally behind Sen. Gemade—a man whose pedigree, passion, and patriotism make him the right man for the job.”

Etsu

Etsu, a former APC national chairmanship aspirant from Niger state, is also eyeing the coveted seat. To achieve this, observers said he recently convened the Concerned North Central Stakeholders of the APC, which is pushing for the seat’s return to the zone.

Etsu disclosed this development in Abuja last Friday. They said they engaged party elders, elected officials, youth and women’s groups, and strategic stakeholders.

He said the engagement is to arrive at a credible, unifying, and visionary candidate who reflects the ideals of the party’s founding fathers and can rebuild internal cohesion and electoral strength ahead of 2027.

Etsu said the outcome of the stakeholders’ consultations will be presented to the president, NWC, and NEC of the APC in due course, and all stakeholders across the country will be appealed to support the patriotic effort for party stabilisation and national interest.

“The Concerned North Central Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) wish to inform the general public, members of the APC family and relevant leadership organs of the party that we have officially commenced broad-based consultations across the North Central geopolitical zone and other parts of the country.

“As stakeholders committed to the progress, unity, and sustainability of the APC, we believe this moment presents a historic opportunity for the North Central zone to reclaim the position of national chairman in the spirit of fairness, zoning balance, and recognition of the zone’s consistent loyalty and contributions to the growth of the party since inception.

“We assure all party faithful and Nigerians that the North Central zone is ready and capable of producing a consensus-based, experienced, and nationally respected figure for the chairmanship role,” he stated.

 

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