APC Forum Apologizes, Says It Regrets Calling for National Chairman to Return to North-Central

The North-Central All Progressives Congress, or APC, Forum has expressed sorrow for advocating for the appointment of a local individual as the APC’s national chairman.

Adamu Abdullahi, the former governor of Nasarawa, emerged as a result of the APC’s 2022 convention, which allocated the office of national chairman to the North-Central. However, Abdullahi Ganduje, a former governor of Kano State in the Northwest, was named the party’s national chairman after he resigned in 2023 before serving out his term.

APC stakeholders from the North-Central states formed the North-Central APC Forum, which launched a push to restore the zone’s status. The Forum organized a number of press conferences, protests, rallies, comments, and correspondence with the Progressive Governors Forum and other party organs regarding the topic.

Professor Nentawe Yilwatda of Plateau State in the North-Central eventually became the party’s national chairman on July 24, 2025.

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The North-Central APC Forum, however, has expressed dissatisfaction with Yilwatda’s performance, pointing out that he hasn’t proven he is capable of leading the party. The APC national chairman was also charged by the Forum with advancing a religious agenda and utilizing his position to further his personal political goals in Plateau State.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, the chairman of the North-Central APC Forum, made these remarks. The remark was made in response to a video clip that showed Yilwatda claiming to be representing North-Central Christians during a church service.

While pushing for the North-Central to regain the party’s national chairmanship, the APC Forum condemned Yilwatda’s actions and apologized to everyone it had harmed.

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“We, the North-Central APC Forum, regret our agitation for the return of the position of APC national chairman to the North-Central region,” said part of the statement. We sincerely regret any wrongdoing we may have caused party leaders throughout the agitation. We extend our apologies to the President, former national chairman Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, and other party officials.

“We made this decision because the North-Central candidate for APC national chairman, who was appointed in response to our agitation, has not shown the capacity to manage such a delicate role and guide the party to new heights. He has demonstrated his incapacity to bring the people of the North-Central together.

The national chairman has been perceived as adopting a sectional religious stance on delicate matters, despite the fact that the North-Central region is secular. In a widely shared video, he claimed to be speaking on behalf of the Christians in the North Central. This runs counter to national and party values. Furthermore, taking such a stance goes against our nation’s leadership.

“After taking these concerns into account, we have made the decision to apologize for insisting that a member of the North-Central should be appointed as the APC’s national chairperson. Our acts are regrettable. We fought for that position to return to North-Central for a year, a year and a half, and a lot of resources. Eventually, Mr. President and the party leaders heard us.

“We apologize because we were the only group that participated in the disturbance.”

The APC Forum pointed out that Yilwatda has never been elected, not even as a delegate or councillor, therefore he has the necessary political experience to hold the role of party national chairman.

When the party first planned a national convention for December 2025, the North-Central APC stakeholders encouraged President Tinubu to name a more capable individual from any zone as national chairman.

“But unfortunately, the position was given to somebody that does not understand politics—someone that has not been in politics for long,” the statement continued. He has only been in politics for roughly three years. Even as a delegate or council member, he has never been elected. Thus, he shouldn’t be in such a prominent role. He is incapable of communicating and bringing people together. The unity party members in Plateau State and the North-Central were dispersed by his handling of the position.

“We also urge Mr. President to relocate the APC national chairman position to any other zone in December, provided that the candidate is qualified and able to ensure the party’s success. We implore Mr. President to choose a capable individual from any zone to head the party, even if the convention does not take place in December as scheduled.

The Forum emphasized that its pledge to provide Tinubu with six million votes from the North-Central in 2027 would not be impacted by the absence of the national chairman from the region.

“The Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Attorney-General of the Federation are among the positions held by the North-Central that are sufficient to support the party in the zone.” Additionally, we have the North-Central Development Commission. To deliver votes for Mr. President in 2027, the APC national chairman position is not necessary. We have already assured Mr. President that we will deliver, and we will do so.

Similarly, the APC Forum said that Yilwatda is the driving force behind the opposition to the potential APC defection of Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang. A drive to persuade Muftwang to switch from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC has been supported by the Forum. However, the Plateau State APC leadership has been opposing the idea and has passed a resolution rejecting the governor’s arrival.

According to the Forum, Mutfwang is being blocked by Yilwatda because he plans to run for Plateau governor in 2027. In 2023, Yilwatda, an APC candidate for Plateau governor, was defeated by PDP candidate Muftwang.

Yilwatda was instructed by the North-Central APC Forum to step down as the party’s national chairman and pursue his goal of becoming governor. Additionally, Yilwatda was charged with using his position to undermine the North-Central APC Forum’s 2018 party support group accreditation.

The national chairman is preventing Governor Caleb Mutfwang from joining the party because he hopes to run for governor of Plateau State once more in 2027. He is funding attacks on us because we are urging Muftwang to join the APC, which we think is best for the party.

In order to focus on his goal of running for governor of Plateau State in 2027, we are also requesting that the national chairman resign from his position. The message went on, “If he is a true leader, he should not prevent others from joining to strengthen the party.