APC chairmanship tussle: Chieftain gives Ganduje 7 days ultimatum to resign

A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, has formally written to the National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Ganduje, asking him to resign within seven days.

Zazzaga, who is the Chairman of North-Central APC Forum and also served as a member, Stakeholder Relations of Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, addressed newsmen on Tuesday in Jos, Plateau State.

He explained that the letter explicitly outlined the reason he is asking Ganduje to resign, and that the seven days ultimatum expires next week Monday, upon which he will take legal action if necessary.

He revealed that at the National Convention of the party held on the 26th March, 2022, the national chairmanship of the party was zoned to the North-Central geopolitical zone, whereas Ganduje is from the North-West region.

The party chieftain pointed out that Ganduje’s occupation of the position is in violation of Article 31.5 (i) and (iv) of the APC Constitution 2022 (as amended), and also contrary to the ratified zoning arrangement of the party which zoned the national chairmanship position to the North-Central, and particularly to Nasarawa State.

He said the letter will be on record that he has applied diverse means to resolve the matter amicably, and had used several internal crises resolving mechanism and communications, but Ganduje is hellbent on occupying the position which is constitutionally for the North-Central.

The letter read: “I am a member and stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) (hereinafter referred to as “the party”) having been registered since 2016. Being an active and committed member of our great party, I was appointed and served as Member, Stakeholder Relations Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council on the 11th day of December, 2022, which function I earnestly performed leading to the election of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Alh. Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR and his Vice President.

“Please recall that following the build up to the National Convention of the party held on the 26th March, 2022, wherein the National Chairmanship of the party was zoned to the North Central Geopolitical Zone of the country and further micro-zoned to Nasarawa State, Senator Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa State was elected National Chairman of the party for a term of four years.

“This was done based on the ratification of the zoning arrangement by the National Convention to ensure an even geographical spread of the executive positions of the party to accommodate the interests of the members and all the geographical zones in the country.

“However, on the 3rd day of August, 2023, after the resignation of Senator Abdullahi Adamu as National chairman of the party just barely two years into his tenure, the party in violation of Article 31.5 (i) and (iv) of its Constitution 2022 (as amended) and contrary to the ratified zoning arrangement of the party zoning the National Chairmanship position to the North Central Geopolitical zone and particularly to Nasarawa State, surreptitiously appointed His Excellency Abdullahi Ganduje PhD from the North West Geopolitical Zone of the country.

“The appointment of His Excellency Abdullahi Ganduje PhD as the National Chairman of the party was greeted with deep seated resentment and disappointment by members of the party, particularly in the North Central Geopolitical Zone and other organs of the party. It must be noted that the said appointment completely violated the provisions of the APC Constitution 2022 (as amended), eradicated the principle of internal democracy which the party protects jealously and jettisoned the zoning arrangement thereby bringing the party to disrepute and further deepened the rancour, distrust and divisions amongst millions of its members, thus, affecting the chances of the party winning any elections in the North Central Geopolitical Zone and the country at large.

“This is aside from the fact that His Excellency Abdullahi Ganduje PhD is standing trial at the High Court of Justice of Kano State on allegations bordering on corruption.

“In light of the above, I call for the immediate resignation of His Excellency Abdullahi Ganduje PhD as the National Chairman of our great party.

“This is to afford the party the opportunity to imbibe the doctrine of internal democracy as guaranteed by the party constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, uphold all zoning agreements reached by the party in order to foster unity and commitment of members thereby brightening the chances of the party winning future elections in the North Central Geopolitical Zone of the country.

“In the alternative, I humbly request His Excellency Abdullahi Ganduje PhD to step aside as National Chairman of the party and allow for the appointment of a Fact-finding committee to examine the matter in line with Article 21.3 of the APC Constitution 2022.

“Take notice that failure to adhere to the options stated above within 7 days of your receipt of this letter, leaves me with no option but to invoke the full amplitude of the law. This I shall do without reverting back to you.”

Zazzaga copied President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio, Speaker House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, the National Working Committee of the APC and the National Advisory Council of the APC.