The North Central Forum of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has reaffirmed its commitment to the party, stating that it will continue to advocate for the party's interests, particularly in the North Central zone.
This renewed commitment follows allegations made by the party’s National Vice Chairman for North Central, Muazu Bawa Rijau, who claimed that some ‘faceless’ support groups are being sponsored to attack the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.
In a statement jointly signed with the North-Central Zonal Secretary, Yakubu Adamu, Rijau warned against any such actions against the SGF, emphasizing that such behavior will no longer be tolerated. While Rijau did not specifically mention the criticisms, the APC North-Central Forum has previously raised concerns regarding alleged lopsided appointments and the failure to adequately involve the North Central zone in decision-making processes.
The APC Forum has alleged that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, is sponsoring cronies to attack Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia. They expressed concerns that the deteriorating relationship between Akume and Alia could result in the APC losing Benue State to the opposition.
In response to Rijau’s allegations, the forum stated, “Nobody can stop us from fighting for the good of the APC in the North Central and the nation as a whole.” They emphasized that the party belongs to its members, not just a few self-serving officials, and asserted their determination to advocate for the party's interests.
In a statement from its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, a member of the APC presidential campaign in the 2023 election, the North Central Forum noted that Rijau was not part of the APC when the group was registered as a recognized support group.
The forum has been advocating for the North Central zone to produce the party’s national chairman in line with the zoning arrangement. This agitation led to demands for the removal or resignation of APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, although the North Central APC Forum has since suspended the call for Ganduje’s removal.
Rijau was not a member of the APC when the North-Central APC Forum was registered as a support group for the party.
The forum noted, “When the North-Central APC Forum was advocating for the resignation or removal of the national chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, the vice chairman of North-Central did not comment on the agitation. Additionally, when there was a coordinated effort to undermine Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia—the only Christian APC governor in North-Central Nigeria—Rijau remained silent.”
The statement continued, “Now that the North-Central APC Forum has taken the initiative to protect the party from chaos by insisting that any actions maligning the Benue governor must cease, Rijau has chosen to speak out.”
The forum emphasized that it represents “genuine and sincere” APC stakeholders committed to the welfare of the North-Central region and will not be intimidated by “self-seeking political leaders who threaten the progress of the zone.”
Furthermore, the statement urged Rijau, as the vice chairman of North-Central, to remain neutral and avoid actions that could destabilize the APC in the region. He should work to accommodate all interests and foster peace during disagreements.
“The North-Central APC Forum has never taken sides on any issue, rather we have been a voice of reason, calling for calm and unity in the interest of the party in the zone. Even our criticism of the actions of the SGF was not disrespectful, it was constructive.”
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