The North Central All Progressives Congress(APC) Forum has suspended its agitation and demand for removal of Abdullahi Ganduje as the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) ahead of the scheduled National Executive Committee (NEC).
The forum has been opposed to the appointment of Ganduje from onset, arguing the position is for the North Central according to the party constitution of 2022 as amended.
The Forum had been engaged in several agitations for Ganduje’s removal through protests, press conferences, consultations, letters, including dragging him to a Federal High Court in Abuja for the nullification of his appointment as the National Chairman of the party.
But in a statement on Wednesday, the Chairman of the North Central APC Forum, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, said they are not opposed to Ganduje as a person but pursuing the rights, privileges and democratic dividends for the region.
The chairman explained that some peace and reconciliatory initiatives have been made and they will obliged as their overall intension is progress of the party, the leadership as well as well as the NEC.
“It has been seven years since the formation of this great North Central APC Forum. Seven years of formidable struggle and agitation in defense of our geo-political zone. We have indeed led struggles for the political balance of our region and the Almighty Allah is gracious to us as a people.
You may recall that, when the former National Chairman of our Party, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu resigned his position in 2023, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje was elected by the National Executive Committee, NEC as his replacement.
“Immediately after the announcement, we stood in defense of our region, insisted that, Abdullahi Adamu’s successor should have come from the North Central geo-political zone in line with the party’s constitution. We addressed press conferences, organized protests and instituted lawsuit against the national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje at a Federal High Court Abuja.
“It was a long judicial battle that we believe was going to be victorious, unfortunately, the court decided the case against us. We were committed, dogged and resilient in pressing on. Still we give glory to Allah for he knows all things.”
“Let it be on record that we do not have personal issue against the person of Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, he is our national chairman.
“Our activism is based on our feelings that the national chairman should have been retained in the north central zone after the exit of Sen. Abdullahi Adamu.
“We have come to agreement that the NEC has all the powers to make decisions for our party including the zoning and elections into vacant positions of our party. We understand that it was NEC that elected Ganduje. More importantly is the fact that, another NEC is by the corner where further decisions will made to the advantage of party as we prepare towards 2027 general elections.
“We at the North Central APC Forum have unanimously agreed to step down our agitation pending the decision of the National Executive Committee of our party.
“This is inline with our principle of fairness, equity and justice in order not to cause unnecessary disaffection among political leaders from the North Central zone and other leaders of our party.
“We also believed that, by standing down at this time shall give the North Central geo-political zone the fair hearing at the NEC where our political leaders will have free hands to negotiate with the centre, some specific benefits which should be attracted to the zone,” he said.
