The camp of All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has dismissed rumors of his potential removal, asserting that he will continue to lead the party beyond the September 12 National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
In an exclusive interview on Wednesday, Ganduje’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Enlightenment, Chief Oliver Okpala, reassured that Ganduje remains firmly in control of the party’s affairs.
Okpala also criticized Saleh Zazzaga, Chairman of the APC North Central Forum, for his persistent attacks on Ganduje. Zazzaga, who had served in the defunct Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, has been advocating for the return of the national chairman’s seat to the North Central region since the departure of Senator Abdullahi Adamu.
In his pursuit, Zazzaga recently took legal action against Ganduje and the National Working Committee, pressing for his demands. Last week, he held a press conference in Jos, threatening a revolt if the NEC fails to remove Ganduje, citing regional marginalization.
Okpala, however, dismissed Zazzaga’s actions, labeling him as a “loose cannon” possibly working for the opposition to destabilize the party. He described the APC North Central Forum as a “faceless group” and emphasized that Ganduje would not be intimidated into relinquishing his “rightful” position.
“No attention should be given to Zazzaga’s blackmail,” Okpala said. He urged Zazzaga to address his concerns through the party’s internal mechanisms instead of resorting to public confrontations. Okpala further argued that Zazzaga’s actions reflect a lack of discipline and disregard for the party’s hierarchy.
Okpala concluded by stating that the APC governors stand firmly behind Ganduje, suggesting that their support outweighs the dissenting voices in the party. He also accused Zazzaga of being influenced by opposition forces to create divisions within the APC, a plot that he asserted would ultimately fail.
