By Muhammed Danjuma Ogwu | Lafia
The clamour for credible, unifying leadership within the All Progressives Congress (APC) intensified on Tuesday as stakeholders from Nasarawa State made a passionate case for the zoning of the party’s National Chairmanship to the North Central—with a resounding endorsement of Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura.
Amid growing calls for internal restructuring following the resignation of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the stakeholders described Al-Makura as a tested and trusted statesman, whose track record, loyalty, and unblemished legacy make him the natural choice to steer the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking in Lafia, APC chieftain Alhassan Adamu described the current moment as a litmus test for the APC’s commitment to fairness, loyalty, and political justice.
“When the party needed unity in 2022, Al-Makura stepped aside without protest. He worked for the party’s success. That’s the kind of loyalty we rarely see—and it must be rewarded now,” Adamu stated.
He said the decision to zone the National Chairmanship to the North West after Senator Adamu’s abrupt exit was a distortion of the party’s own internal balancing, stressing that equity demands a return of the position to the North Central, particularly Nasarawa State.
Al-Makura is not just another aspirant. He is the only governor ever elected under the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) banner in 2011 and a key architect of the APC merger. According to the stakeholders, his elevation to party leadership would restore balance among the legacy parties—CPC, ACN, ANPP, and APGA.
“Since its formation, the CPC has never produced a National Chairman. Senator Al-Makura represents that bloc and has continued to serve as a bridge between the party’s founding and its future,” Adamu said.
Adamu recalled Al-Makura’s performance as Governor of Nasarawa State (2011–2019), where he led sweeping reforms in infrastructure, education, and governance, and his subsequent role as Senator (2019–2023), where he gained national respect and built broad coalitions.
“He understands both grassroots politics and national power dynamics. As governor and senator, he showed that rare ability to lead with vision while uniting diverse interests,” he added.
Al-Makura’s political journey spans more than four decades. His calm temperament and results-driven leadership style have made him a go-to figure for conflict resolution within the APC. He chaired the Ekiti Governorship Primaries (2018), led the North-East Reconciliation Committee, and served on the Bisi Akande National Reconciliation Panel.
Stakeholders also pointed to Al-Makura’s longstanding relationship with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing it as a natural synergy rooted in progressive ideology, mutual respect, and shared governance values.
“With 2027 on the horizon, we need a party chairman who aligns with the President’s vision and can hold the house together. Al-Makura is that unifying force,” Adamu declared.
He also credited Al-Makura with diffusing recent tensions between the CPC bloc and other factions, calling him the “guardian of unity” whose diplomacy has kept the party from splintering.
In what they described as a “moment of truth” for the APC, the Nasarawa stakeholders insisted that party loyalty, regional balance, and merit must guide the selection of the next National Chairman.
“Senator Al-Makura is not just our candidate—he is the conscience of this party. He embodies everything the APC was founded on: loyalty, equity, competence, and vision,” Adamu concluded.
As the APC navigates a pivotal crossroads, party loyalists say this is the time to reclaim its founding ideals and entrust leadership to a man who has never wavered, never rebelled, and never failed the party.
