The storm is not settled yet for the embattled National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje. This is even as scores of demonstrators on Thursday stormed the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja. They demanded the resignation of the National Chairman.
Recall that Ganduje has been battling his suspension from APC in his Ward in Kano State by a faction of the party.
The former Governor of Kano State is also facing allegation of bribery levelled against him by the Kano State Government.
While the embattled National Chairman thought that he had won the battle by getting the court the reverse his suspension order, Ganduje was embarrassed by the presence of protesters at the party secretariat on Thursday.
The group numbering hundreds, carried placards and were chanting solidarity songs to express their displeasure the the National Chairman.
Among the inscription on the several banners they were carrying read, “Ganduje must resign” and “Return the APC Chairmanship to North Central.”
The protesters also appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, to consider returning the leadership of APC to their region.
The agitation is coming just two days after the Forum of APC State Chairmen passed a vote of confidence on Ganduje. The Chairmen had also expressed their readiness to back him to remain as National Chairman.
The delegation of 37 State Chairmen gave the endorsement during a solidarity visit to the national secretariat of the party.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, the protesters under the aegis of Concerned North Central APC Stakeholders said occupation of the office of National Chairman violated the party zoning process. They, therefore, lamented that Ganduje stay in office was a clear violation of the zoning process in the party.
Leader of the group Mohammed Mahmud Saba, disclosed that, unlike the 37 APC State Chairmen, his group has passed a vote of no confidence.
He said, “The people in the North Central have passed a vote of no confidence on the National Chairman. They equally demanded his immediate resignation.
Saba stated that the people of North Central felt betrayed when the position of APC National Chairman was hijacked from the zone. He pointed that zone gave Tinubu the third highest votes after North West and South West at the 2023 presidential election.
He said, “We, the North Central APC Concerned Stakeholders have resolved to unanimously agitate for our right. And to reclaim our mandate which was handed unto us by the National Convention of our great Party in 2022. Various sections of our Constitution have established the procedure of replacing an executive member at all levels of the party in the event of death, resignation, incapacitation or expulsion from the party by any executive member.
“It is a fact that the emergence of Dr. Umar Ganduje as National Chairman was done against the spirit and soul of the APC which is the constitution of our great party. This singular act has impacted negatively on us as a people in the North Central. We feel betrayed and spited because we gave His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the third highest votes after North West and South West in the country. Which put us in a better position to enjoy the fruit of our labour.
“We, therefore, demand that Dr. Umar Ganduje resign immediately. And to stop parading himself as the National Chairman of our great party. The zoning arrangements made by the National Convention in 2022, which zoned the office of the national chairman to the North Central be respected by the NEC. And all other organs of the party and that all governors elected on the platform of the APC in the North Central should wake up from their slumber. They should mobilize their members against this impunity until Ganduje resigns as the National Chairman,” Saba said.
source: PUNCH
