APC Chair Race Heats Up With CPC Bloc Rallying Behind Former Nasarawa Governor

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nigeria is on the cusp of another pivotal leadership shift as stakeholders from the North-Central geopolitical zone have thrown their weight behind Senator Tanko Al-Makura as the party’s next national chairman. The endorsement follows the abrupt resignation of Abdullahi Ganduje, reigniting long-standing zoning debates within the ruling party.

Al-Makura, a former governor of Nasarawa State and ex-senator, has emerged as the consensus candidate of APC leaders from the North-Central, a region that has repeatedly agitated for its rightful place in the party’s power distribution structure. The group, under the umbrella of the APC North-Central Forum, cited Al-Makura’s deep political pedigree, unwavering loyalty to the party, and foundational role in its formation as core reasons behind their choice.

In a formal statement signed by the Forum’s chairman, Saleh Zazzaga, the group outlined Al-Makura’s credentials, noting his active involvement in Nigerian politics for over four decades. From his early days as youth leader in the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) to his pivotal role in the now-defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which merged to form the APC in 2013, Al-Makura’s political résumé reads like a blueprint for seasoned leadership.

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The endorsement, titled “Why Al-Makura Deserves to be APC National Chairman”, underscored the fact that while the other two legacy blocs—ACN and ANPP—have produced party chairmen, the CPC faction remains unrepresented at that level. Al-Makura, they argue, is the most qualified figure to correct that imbalance, especially as someone who voluntarily stepped aside in 2022 to support a consensus candidacy during the last leadership reshuffle.

APC’s Future Leadership Hinges on Al-Makura’s Endorsement

The North-Central Forum also emphasized the necessity of continuity, pointing out that the chairmanship position was originally zoned to their region when Abdullahi Adamu, also from Nasarawa, assumed the role in 2022. Adamu’s resignation in 2023 left the term incomplete, and with Ganduje’s recent exit, the Forum believes it is time to complete that mandate with Al-Makura at the helm.

Currently, Bukar Dalori, the deputy national chairman (north), is serving as acting national chairman. But party insiders note that a permanent replacement is imminent, and the North-Central is positioning itself strongly in that race.

Al-Makura’s storied political journey includes not only his governorship and senatorial tenures but also his service in various party committees. These include chairing the Ekiti governorship primary election committee in 2018 and participating in key national reconciliation efforts. The Forum also highlighted his advocacy for inclusive politics, particularly noting his engagement with Nigeria’s disability community—a cause close to him as a person living with a disability.

The group insists that Al-Makura represents stability, experience, and a return to core party values, especially at a time when internal unity and discipline are crucial for the APC’s long-term strategy under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.

With consultations reportedly concluded and broad consensus achieved within the zone, the North-Central Forum’s endorsement is a significant political statement. Whether it sways the broader national leadership of the APC remains to be seen, but it certainly raises the stakes in the ongoing debate over equity, loyalty, and party legacy.