THE ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is set for a decisive National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Abuja, where a new National Chairman may emerge to replace Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, who resigned in June under controversial circumstances.
Though the former Kano State Governor attributed his resignation to health concerns, political analysts and party insiders suggest that Ganduje’s exit was the result of internal party tensions, factional power plays, and strategic realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Since Ganduje’s departure, Deputy National Chairman (North), Ali Bukar Dalori, has served as the acting National Chairman, but divisions remain within the party on whether Dalori should continue in that capacity or be replaced with a new substantive leader.
As preparations for the NEC meeting near completion, two names have emerged as front-runners for the chairmanship:
Tanko Al-Makura, a former governor of Nasarawa State, and Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, current Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
Both hail from the North-Central region, which is mounting a robust campaign for the APC to return the chairmanship position to the zone, citing zoning arrangements and electoral contributions.
The zone lost the chairmanship when Senator Abdullahi Adamu resigned in July 2023 and Ganduje from North-West took over.
In a strongly worded statement on Tuesday, Saleh Zazzaga, Chairman of the North-Central APC Forum, described the current arrangement as unjust, warning that continuing to sideline the zone would amount to “betrayal of trust.”
“The North-Central has consistently played a pivotal role in the APC’s success,” Zazzaga said. “We delivered the third-highest number of votes for President Tinubu in 2023 and currently control five out of six APC states in the region.
Returning the chairmanship to us is not a favour, it is a constitutional and moral obligation.”
Behind closed doors, the final decision may rest with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is also the National Leader of the APC.
According to several insiders at the APC national secretariat, party stakeholders, governors, and National Working Committee (NWC) members are all awaiting Tinubu’s signal on the next chairman.
A senior APC official who requested anonymity said: “The President’s preference will carry weight. He has been fully briefed and is expected to attend the NEC meeting. Whatever he says will shape the party’s direction.”
The President has attended the last two NEC meetings and is widely expected to use Thursday’s gathering to recalibrate the party’s leadership structure heading into the midterm phase of his administration.
Party insiders confirmed that top APC leaders visited the Presidential Villa earlier this week to consult with Tinubu, although the exact content of the meeting remains undisclosed. However, it is believed the chairmanship issue was central to the discussions.
The APC Constitution (2022 Amendment) empowers the NEC to appoint a new chairman and even establish a Caretaker Committee when deemed necessary.
Specifically, Article 13.3 gives the NEC sweeping powers to summon national conventions, reconstitute party organs, and fill leadership positions between conventions.
On June 30, Deputy National Secretary, Festus Fuanter, announced that the NEC would meet to deliberate on several critical issues, including the appointment of a substantive chairman, the e-registration of party members, and constitutional reviews.
“If during the meeting they so desire that a new chairman is nominated, we’ll accept such nomination,” said Fuanter. “The convention will then finalize the position.”
With days to go, high-stakes lobbying is in full swing. Dalori’s supporters argue he has stabilized the party since Ganduje’s exit and should remain in office until a full Elective Convention is held.
However, other power blocs insist on an immediate replacement from the North-Central, warning that delay would violate the party’s zoning principle and risk alienating loyal stakeholders.
A source revealed that both Al-Makura and Yilwatda have strong political backing and national name recognition, adding: “Dalori has done well, but there’s a growing consensus that the time has come for a North-Central candidate.”
The call for a North-Central chairman is not without opposition. APC chapters in Kaduna and Zamfara States have advised that the process must follow due democratic procedures, regardless of zonal interests.
Kaduna APC spokesperson, Salisu Wusono, stated: “As long as the constitution is followed, we will support any decision. What matters most is internal democracy.”
Similarly, Yusuf Idris, spokesperson of APC in Zamfara, said: “We are not happy Ganduje resigned, but we will stand with whoever emerges, provided they promote unity and progress within the party.”
Aside from the leadership issue, the NEC will also focus on electronic registration of members. APC Deputy Organising Secretary, Eze Duru, emphasized that the initiative aims to enhance transparency and broaden the party’s digital infrastructure.
“E-registration will enable members to register from anywhere, improve accountability, and demonstrate that we are a party of the future,” he said. “We want to send a strong message that we’re ready to do what’s right for Nigeria and for our members.”
Thursday’s NEC meeting is shaping up to be a defining moment in the APC’s trajectory. Whether it produces a new National Chairman, confirms Dalori’s interim tenure, or escalates zonal rivalry, the decisions taken will have implications for the party’s unity, 2027 election strategy, and public image.
As one senior source put it: “This is not just a meeting. It’s a moment of reckoning. The APC must show that it can manage power, transition, and internal democracy without tearing itself apart.”
Attempts to reach APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, were unsuccessful as his phone was switched off at the time of filing this report.