Ex-Senate president, North-Central APC elders back Ganduje

A former President of the Senate, Senator Ameh Ebute, and elders of the North Central All Progressives Congress, on Monday, endorsed Abdullahi Ganduje to remain the APC national chairman.

This was disclosed in a statement issued to the press in Abuja by Ebute, who also serves as the chairman of the North Central APC Elders Forum.

The endorsement comes four days after the North Central Governors’ Forum, led by Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, also expressed their support.

While endorsing Ganduje’s leadership, the governors cautioned against distractions as the ruling APC prepares for two crucial governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States.

In Monday’s statement, Ebute praised Governor Sule for his efforts in restoring peace to APC states in the region.
He said, “The forum specifically applauded the recent courtesy visit of Governor Abdullahi Sule to the APC headquarters to discuss the interests of the North Central geopolitical zone with the National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. We are pleased that the governor is leading the North Central geopolitical zone to reposition the party for maximum performance.

“We also thank President Bola Tinubu and Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for resolving the political crisis that previously plagued Benue APC. The dissolution and formation of the caretaker committee in Benue have restored peace to both the party and governance in the state.

“The North Central elders urge Ganduje to include the North Central zone in the leadership of the institute, which is about to be unveiled by the party in a few days. We are committed to supporting anything that will benefit the North Central people by using the governing APC to attract development to our zone.

“We encourage all APC governors in the region to follow Governor Sule’s example by visiting the National Chairman of our party to further strengthen our relationship with the leadership at the centre.”

In the past six months, Ganduje has survived a series of 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, the media was rife with rumours that President Bola Tinubu planned to announce Ganduje’s dismissal at the forthcoming National Executive Committee meeting scheduled for 12 September.

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.