APC’s Abdullahi Ganduje Gets Boost as North Central Elders Endorse Him

Abdullahi Ganduje, the embattled National Chairman of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has received a significant boost as a former President of the Senate, Senator Ameh Ebute, and elders of the North Central APC, have endorsed him to remain in office.

The endorsement, which was announced in a statement on Monday, comes just four days after the North Central Governors’ Forum, led by Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, also expressed their support for Ganduje’s leadership.

The statement, which was issued by Ebute, who also serves as the chairman of the North Central APC Elders Forum, praised Governor Sule for his efforts in restoring peace to APC states in the region. Ebute also thanked President Bola Tinubu and Ganduje for resolving the political crisis that previously plagued Benue APC, saying that the dissolution and formation of a caretaker committee in the state had restored peace to both the party and governance.

The North Central elders urged Ganduje to include the North Central zone in the leadership of an institute that is about to be unveiled by the party, and committed to supporting anything that would benefit the region by using the governing APC to attract development.

In the past six months, Ganduje has faced several challenges, including aborted moves and legal battles, particularly from APC stakeholders in the North Central who have been advocating for the leadership position to return to their zone following the exit of his predecessor, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

Two weeks ago, there were widespread rumors that President Bola Tinubu planned to announce Ganduje’s dismissal at the forthcoming National Executive Committee meeting scheduled for September 12. However, the ruling party put the speculation to rest on Friday when the National Secretary of the party, Senator Ajibola Basiru, assured that there would be no change of leadership at the APC secretariat.