The North Central All Progressives Congress (NC APC) Forum has formally endorsed former Nasarawa State Governor, Senator Tanko Al-Makura, for the position of National Chairman of the ruling party.

The endorsement comes amid renewed calls for the APC to allow the North-Central to complete the unfinished term of Abdullahi Adamu, who resigned in July 2023. Ganduje, who replaced him in August 2023, stepped down on June 27, 2025.

The Forum’s endorsement, announced in a statement on Sunday by the Forum’s Chairman, Saleh Zazzaga, followed extensive consultations among stakeholders from the region and came just days after the resignation of former National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.

Zazzaga said the Forum’s decision aligns with its earlier call for the APC to return the chairmanship to the North-Central, in line with the party’s zoning arrangement that brought in Adamu in 2022.

The Forum noted that Al-Makura, also from Nasarawa like Adamu, represents the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc, the only one among APC’s three legacy parties (CPC, ACN, ANPP) yet to produce a national chairman.

“Senator Al-Makura’s loyalty to the APC and President Bola Tinubu is not in doubt. He is a bridge-builder, a party loyalist, and a former governor and senator with unmatched political and administrative experience,” the Forum stated.

The group highlighted Al-Makura’s party pedigree, noting that he was a signatory to the 2013 APC merger and had previously stepped down for Adamu in the 2022 consensus arrangement.

It also pointed to his past national assignments, including serving as chairman of the Ekiti APC governorship primary in 2018, head of the North-East Zonal Reconciliation Committee, and a member of the Bisi Akande Reconciliation Committee.

The group also commended Al-Makura for his inclusivity, particularly his engagement with Nigeria’s disability community, as he is a person living with a disability.

With the chairmanship once again vacant, the Forum said it is only fair that the position returns to the zone.

“After extensive deliberations among stakeholders in the North-Central region, we have resolved to back Senator Al-Makura for the National Chairmanship.

This is in furtherance of our demand that the North-Central retains the position as originally zoned,” Zazzaga said.