Contenders for the All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairmanship seat have confirmed their interest in the race.
Former Nasarawa State governor Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, former Plateau State governor Joshua Dariye, and Prof Muhammad Kailani confirmed to LEADERSHIP that they are in the chairmanship race to unify the party.
However, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator George Akume has distanced himself from the contest, saying he is firmly focused on delivering the mandate entrusted to him by President Bola Tinubu.
He also stated that he was a firm believer in the principle that whatever God plans for him would surely come to pass.
Former Kano State governor Dr Abdullahi Ganduje recently resigned as national chairman of the APC on health grounds.
His resignation has sparked a clamour from the North Central party leaders to reclaim the position that was originally zoned to the zone in 2022.
The deputy national chairman (North), Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori, is the acting national chairman pending the July 25 meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), which during which the party may fill the vacancy created by Ganduje’s resignation.
Al-Makura is in the race
Confirming his interest in the race for the top party seat, Al-Makura said that as a key player in the movement and processes that birthed the party, he is passionate about leading it through the next general elections.
Speaking exclusively to LEADERSHIP, the former senator representing Nasarawa South senatorial district explained that the party’s chairmanship seat should go to someone with institutional memory of how it fused into a strong, virile entity to reckon with across the world.
Al-Makura was among the contenders for the party’s highest seat in 2022 before withdrawing at the last minute during its national convention in March 2022.
He said that with the seat presently vacant following the exit of the former governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, he is willing to consolidate the gains recorded by the party by adding value to its administration towards a successful election in 2027.
He said, “I’m not in any way engaging in a campaign or solicitation because doing so will amount to jumping the gun. I don’t want to cross the bridge before I reach it, nor do I want to violate any etiquette or protocol that is in line with the dictates of our constitution. To be sincere and honest, I’m passionate about being afforded the opportunity to lead this party or to be within the fold that will drive the process of administering this party.”
The former Nasarawa State governor stated that, having been involved from the beginning, he understands the party’s ideology, vision, and philosophy enough to improve its fortunes.
“This is because we have come a long way with APC. I have been a founding member, someone who was part and parcel of the merger, and a key signatory to it. And given the ideology and philosophy of APC as a merger of a group, our focus and preoccupation is to ensure the unity of this country under one roof, where all primordial tendencies will be put aside and a holistic, united and all-embracing national tendency will be the order of the day.
And that is what has been the lot of the APC since 2013 when it was registered.
“I feel at this point in time, with the gains the party has garnered in presiding and ensuring national cohesion, someone with institutional memory that knows how it all began and how it has been carefully nurtured and chaperoned, should be the one to lead this party.
“And without being immodest, I feel I should take the gauntlet and lead this party, and carefully ensure mediation, consolidation and cooperation of all the legacy parties that make up the APC, so that we can ease the burden of election in 2027, and ensure the same delivery for President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has suffered and paid his dues for this party, and is doing very well in his policies and actions which people may not necessarily see because some people are impatient, and every policy and ideas has gestation period before they materialise.
“This is my wish that, if given the opportunity, we will guide this process carefully, delicately and sensitively to ensure that the dream and vision of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu that mean well for this country come to fruition at the full passage of time between 2027 and 2031,” he explained.
On whether the slot should go to the North Central this time around, Al-Makura said the chairmanship position belonged to the zone, going by the wisdom of the leaders who initially ensured that all six geopolitical entities were allocated certain positions in the spirit of fairness, equity and justice.
“And by the wisdom of the leaders of the party, the chairmanship position was zoned to the North Central.
“Now, with the resignation of Senator Abdullahi Adamu, it was assumed and automatically a given that whoever would occupy that position should be someone from the North Central, but in the wisdom of the leaders, and maybe because of certain intricacies and political dynamisms, that position went to the North West and Abdullahi Ganduje. The North Central carefully and respectfully condoned that, but now that Ganduje has resigned, I think it will be fair and just that the position should come to the zone,” he said.
Dariye In Race
Similarly, former governor of Plateau State Joshua Dariye has also confirmed his interest in his party’s leadership race.
Dariye, who also spoke exclusively with our reporter, said he is in the race to unite the party.
Confirming that consultations are ongoing, the former governor said he would be honoured to serve the party and that he would need the input of party leaders at various levels.
He said, “I am the unifier. I am not saying I am the best, but it will be an honour to serve the party. I will help the party build cohesion across the party structures.”
Dariye pledged to ensure a common front to consolidate the party’s base ahead of the 2027 elections, adding that as a former governor and senator he was qualified for the position.
I’ll rejuvenate party – Kailani
Speaking also to LEADERSHIP, Kailani said he is consulting stakeholders about the position.
On what to do differently if he emerges chairman, Kailani said, “I will rejuvenate the party through internal democracy, a level playing field and a conducive atmosphere for all party members.”
He also promised to redirect the government positively towards good governance.
Akume denies interest in race
The SGF, George Akume, has dismissed reports suggesting he is vying for the position of national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing them as false and distracting.
In a statement issued by his special adviser on media and publicity, Yomi Odunuga, the SGF categorically denied any involvement in the race for the party’s leadership, noting that his focus remains firmly on delivering the mandate entrusted to him by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The attention of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has been drawn to a publication indicating that he is one of the top politicians jostling for the position of APC national chairman,” the statement read.
“To the best of our knowledge, this claim is entirely fabricated and designed to distract the SGF from the critical responsibilities assigned to him.”
Akume, a former governor of Benue State, emphasised that he was not lobbying for any party position, including the APC chairman.
Instead, he reiterated his commitment to supporting the successful implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“I am not in a hurry to abdicate my responsibility and the task that the President of the Federal Republic has placed before me,” Akume said.
“I am a firm believer in the principle that whatever God plans for you will surely come to pass. So I can’t be in a race I am not interested in.”
While acknowledging that credible individuals in the North-Central zone can lead the APC should the party zone the position to the region, Akume clarified that his priority is national development, not party politics.
“Everything I have become in life has been by the grace of God and through the support of people, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I am fully focused on ensuring that Nigerians benefit from the true dividends of democracy,” he added.
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