By NEXTER
All Progressives Congress (APC), North Central Zone, comprising governors, senators, former ministers and party stakeholders have rallied behind President Bola Tinubu’s second term bid.
The stakeholders took the decision during its zonal congress held on Wednesday in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
Former Senate President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, formally moved the motion to unanimously adopt Tinubu for the second term as sole candidate.
The motion was seconded by the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule who also doubles as the Chairman North Central Governors Forum.
Moving the motion, Akume reminded delegates of the zone’s strategic importance to the party’s national outlook, pointing out that APC governs all the states making up the zone — Benue, Kogi, Niger, Nasarawa, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory.
“We have been given a very special gift by Almighty God — governors who have performed and ministers who have performed exceptionally well,” he said.
He urged party members not to rest on their oars ahead of 2027, warning that while victory was within reach, it must be worked for.
The congress produced new zonal executives for the party through a consensus process affirmed by voice vote and acclamation.
Speaking, Governor Sule cited Tinubu’s many reforms as reasons why North Central governors were throwing their weight behind him.
“If there is anybody that should support this motion, it should be the governors. As a result of the reforms of President Tinubu, we have been able to carry out our work — some of us — without borrowing a penny from the bank. For that reason, I second the motion for the North Central Zone to adopt President Bola Tinubu as our sole candidate,” he stated.
He said the President’s reforms have been reasons why governors elected on other platforms are defecting to the governing party.
He disclosed that at a meeting of APC governors in Lagos two days before the congress, the party now counted 31 governors among its ranks, a development he attributed to the Tinubu administration’s record of governance.
“Every time we have the meetings of APC governors, we continue to welcome new APC governors into our fold. We must commend Mr. President. We also commend the leadership of the party and we commend the members of the party for the good work that continues to attract all these other people,” he stated.
The APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, represented by the Deputy National Secretary, Prof. Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana, SAN, who delivered a message on his behalf.
Yilwatda commended the North Central Zone for its loyalty to the party and to the agenda of President Tinubu, describing that loyalty as “a bedrock of stability” for the administration.
He congratulated the newly elected zonal executives, reminding them that their emergence was not a victory of one faction over another but a call to service.
“Reach out to those who may feel left out, grow our numbers and our strength,” the national APC Chairman said.
He also used the occasion to formally invite all delegates and party stakeholders to the APC National Convention slated for March 27 and 28, 2026, at Eagle Square, Abuja.
On his part, former national chairman of the APC and first civilian governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Abdullahi Adamu said the party had remained faithful to its constitution and guidelines in the conduct of the congress.
He called on every elected official sitting in the zone to be returned to the APC in 2027.
“It is our hope and our prayer, and we will work to ensure that we speak together,” Adamu said.
