By Isreal Adams Jos
The North-Central All Progressives Congress, APC, Forum has adopted the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume, as the leader of the party in the zone.
The decision was taken at a stakeholders meeting in Abuja on Thursday.
A statement issued after the meeting, signed by Chairman of the North-Central APC Forum, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, noted that Akume, as the SGF, is the highest ranking APC member in the North-Central zone.
Zazzaga, a member of the APC campaign council in the 2023 election, in the statement added that the Forum is impressed with how Akume is providing leadership for the party in the zone.
It would be recalled that the APC Forum had in the past advised Akume to carry all sections of the North-Central along, and stand as the leader of the party in the zone.
The advise followed suggestions that the SGF was only working with Tiv, Benue kinsmen while sidelining other parts of the North-Central.
The statement further noted that Akume had heeded the advise, and is providing the leadership expected from him as the leader of the APC in the North-Central.
The Forum specifically pointed to efforts being made by the SGF to unite the party in the zone towards putting up a strong showing in the 2027 elections.
“The North-Central All Progressives Congress Forum has adopted the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume, as the leader of the zone.
“We appreciate efforts being championed by the Senator George Akume to unite the party in the North-Central and to strengthen it to record even more success in the 2027 election.
“As the father of the party in the zone, Senator Akume has shown that he has a large heart by overlooking previous disagreements and embracing all stakeholders in the overall interest of the party.
“We urge all those who are yet to embrace Senator Akume’s leadership to do so, so that the North-Central APC can present a united front in the 2027 election,” the statement said.
The Forum enjoined all units of the APC in the North-Central to fall behind Akume’s leadership “for a united and stronger APC in the zone”.
The party units include the North-Central APC Governors Forum, North-Central APC Senate Caucus, North-Central APC House of Representatives Caucus, North-Central APC state chairmen, Forum of North-Central APC Speakers, and North-Central APC members of state assemblies, among others.
“We understand that these units have been working seamlessly with the SGF, Senator George Akume.
“They should continue to work with the guidance of Senator George Akume, and continue to strategize to ensure that the APC presents a united front in 2027.
“Our goal is to win all elective positions in the zone in 2027 to show that in truth, the North-Central is for APC.
“Also, our number one priority is to provide massive support for the victory of President Bola Tinubu in 2027. Earlier, the North-Central APC Forum promised to deliver four million votes for Tinubu’s reelection in 2027. We believe that with all stakeholders working with Senator George Akume, the North-Central can produce six million votes for Mr. President in the next election,” the statement added.
The Forum equally urged stakeholders to work with Akume towards the resolution of internal conflicts in all state chapters of the party in the zone.
“It is very important for the stakeholders to rally around Senator George Akume and work together to resolve all outstanding issues in the various state chapters. While we understand that conflict is sometimes inevitable in human relations, especially in political parties, we also emphasize that such conflicts should not be allowed to override collective interests.
“As such, we enjoin all stakeholders to put personal interests aside and work towards resolution of all conflicts to entrench harmony in all state chapters of the APC in the North-Central,” the statement said.
In the same vein, the North-Central APC Forum urged Benue State governor, Hyacinth Alia, to accept Akume as the leader of the APC in the zone, and work with him to advance the collective interest of the party.
Alia had been engaged in a face-off with Akume over the control of the APC structure in Benue. The dispute had led to the factionalisation of the party in the state.
To resolve the conflict, the North-Central APC Forum urged the governor to acknowledge Akume as the leader of the party in the zone.
The statement added, “Like other stakeholders, Governor Hyacinth Alia should embrace Senator George Akume as the APC leader in the North-Central and work with him for the interest of the zone. We believe that the Governor of Benue State, like Senator George Akume, also wants the progress of the APC in the state and the entire North-Central, and the country at large. We advise that the hatchet should be buried for harmony and progress to thrive in the affairs of the party.”
