After Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje stepped down as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), there is growing pressure on Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), to resign and take over the position as the ruling party’s national chairman.
However, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, clarified late Saturday that there has been no change regarding Akume’s role as SGF. In response to rumors of Akume’s potential replacement, Onanuga stated that President Tinubu, who is currently in Saint Lucia, has not made any new appointments and urged the public to dismiss the false information circulating about Akume.
The push for Akume to assume the national chairmanship role stems from renewed demands by APC stakeholders from the North-Central geopolitical zone following Ganduje’s unexpected resignation. They seek to have the National Chairman position returned to their region, aligning with the party’s 2022 zoning arrangements.
Stakeholders argue that Akume’s experience makes him the ideal candidate for this role, as the North-Central zone lost the chairmanship to Ganduje’s North-West after Senator Abdullahi Adamu’s resignation facilitated Ganduje’s appointment during the 12th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in August 2023. Ganduje resigned last Friday due to health concerns.
In light of Ganduje’s departure, the Deputy National Chairman (North), Hon. Ali Dalori, has assumed the role of acting National Chairman in accordance with the party’s constitution, until a new official is appointed by the NEC in December.
Despite initial opposition to Ganduje’s appointment from several North-Central groups, the NEC meeting in February upheld the appointment and the zoning of the chairmanship to the North-West. Now, with Ganduje’s exit, some leaders from the North-Central are reinvigorating their push for the chairmanship to return to their zone.
Although Akume has not expressed interest in the national chairmanship role, at least five individuals from the North-Central region are reported to be considering candidacies for the top party position. These include former governors: Senator Umar Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, Senator Joshua Dariye of Plateau State, Yahaya Bello from Kogi State, along with Senators Solomon Ewuga and Sani Musa, the latter representing the Niger East Senatorial district.
