Ahead of the national convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a coalition of north east APC groups has urged the party to consider George Akume, a former governor of Benue state and serving minister of special duties who hails from the north central zone as next national chairman.
Addressing press conference Friday in Bauchi, the convener of the coalition Ayuba Hassan explained that the north central is at the moment the most marginalized region in the national politics, hence the need for the ruling party to slot the national chairmanship to them.
Buttressing his points, Ayuba pointed out that president Muhammadu Buhari comes from north west, vice president is from south west, senate president from the north east, while the speaker house of representatives is from the south west again.
According to him, the coalition was formed from across the north east APC youths and stakeholders with the aim of fostering unity, justice and fairness among all party members and working towards the success of the party beyond 2023.
“After extensive deliberations and addressing pressing issues affecting the party and making assessment ahead of national convention 2021 where we unanimously agreed and endorsed His Excellency Senator George Akume because of his wealth of experience as a former governor of Benue state for eight years, three terms senator and served as minority leader in the senate and current minister of special duties and inter-governmental affairs federal republic of Nigeria”. He said.
The group opined that if Akume emerges as next national chairman, it will address the current political imbalance among the six geopolitical zones of the country adding that with his political skills, Akume could lead the party well.