…Urges Tinubu to prioritise justice, balance, in selecting next APC national Chair

…Warns against appointing anyone without grassroots trust or party loyalty

A prominent bloc within the All Progressives Congress (APC), the North Central APC Accord, has formally endorsed Senator Mohammed Sani Musa as the next national chairman of the party, following the resignation of Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

In a statement released on Sunday and jointly signed by Rev. Matthias Ikani (President) and Ambassador Moses Audu (Secretary-General), the group said the choice of Senator Musa  who represents Niger East and chairs the Senate Committee on Finance  represents the “most credible and unifying” path forward for the ruling party.

“Senator Musa is calm, visionary, tested and trusted. In a time of internal restructuring, he is the bridge between legacy and future,” the group said.

The group insisted that the national chairmanship must be ceded to the North Central zone, arguing that the region has consistently supported the APC since its formation in 2013 but has never produced a substantive national chairman.

“This is not about sentiment but justice. Our zone helped build the APC from the CPC-ACN merger days. Yet, we’ve never led the party at the national level,” the statement read.

They called on President Bola Tinubu and the APC National Working Committee to prioritise fairness, regional balance, and party unity in the succession process.

According to the group, Senator Musa stands out for his discipline, lack of political baggage, and strong grassroots credibility — qualities they say are critical as the APC prepares for the 2027 elections.

“He has no record of factionalism or backroom dealings. He is strategic, humble, and deeply connected to the base,” the group added.

They warned that overlooking the North Central or appointing a politically divisive figure could worsen internal divisions and damage public confidence.

“This is not the time for political survival tactics. Leadership must be earned, not traded,” the group cautioned.

The North Central APC Accord also urged President Tinubu to promote internal democracy in the selection process and resist closed-door arrangements that undermine party credibility.

“The President has a historic opportunity to prove his commitment to equity and party unity by backing a consultative, merit-based process,” they said.

Several youth and women groups across the North Central region have also backed Senator Musa in recent days, describing him as “a servant leader with the temperament for national leadership.”

The group concluded that the APC must reflect Nigeria’s diversity and democratic growth if it hopes to retain the trust of its base.