The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has officially declared the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, as the party�s leader in the North-Central geopolitical zone. The announcement was made in a statement issued following a stakeholders� meeting held in Abuja on Thursday, April 3, 2025.
According to the statement, signed by the Chairman of the North-Central APC Forum, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, Akume holds the distinction of being the highest-ranking APC member within the region, making his appointment a logical step for the party’s leadership structure. Zazzaga, who also served on the APC campaign council during the 2023 elections, conveyed the Forum’s satisfaction with Senator Akume’s stewardship and his efforts to guide the party in the North-Central.
This formal endorsement comes after previous encouragement from the APC Forum for Akume to proactively engage with all factions within the zone and to embrace his role as the party’s leader. This prior advice stemmed from concerns that the SGF was primarily focusing on his immediate associates from the Tiv community and Benue State, potentially sidelining other parts of the North-Central.
The latest statement, however, emphasizes that Senator Akume has heeded this advice and is actively fulfilling the leadership responsibilities expected of him. The Forum specifically highlighted Akume’s ongoing efforts to foster unity within the North-Central APC, with a clear focus on presenting a formidable front in the upcoming 2027 general elections.
“The North-Central All Progressives Congress Forum has adopted the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume, as the leader of the zone,” the statement declared. “We appreciate efforts being championed by the Senator George Akume to unite the party in the North-Central and to strengthen it to record even more success in the 2027 election.”
The Forum further described Senator Akume as the “father of the party” in the region, acknowledging his willingness to put past disagreements aside and embrace all stakeholders in the overall interest of the APC. They urged any members who have yet to fully support Akume’s leadership to do so, emphasizing the importance of a united North-Central APC as they approach the 2027 elections.
The call for support extends to all branches of the APC within the North-Central, including the North-Central APC Governors Forum, the North-Central APC Senate Caucus, the North-Central APC House of Representatives Caucus, state party chairmen, the Forum of North-Central APC Speakers, and members of state assemblies from the region. The Forum expressed their understanding that these units have been working collaboratively with the SGF and encouraged them to continue doing so under Senator Akume’s guidance.
Looking ahead, the North-Central APC Forum has set ambitious goals for the 2027 elections, aiming to secure victory in all elective positions within the zone as a demonstration of the APC’s strength in the region. Their primary objective also includes providing substantial support for the reelection of President Bola Tinubu in 2027. The Forum has increased its initial pledge of four million votes for President Tinubu to a target of six million, expressing confidence that this can be achieved with all stakeholders aligned under Senator Akume’s leadership.
Furthermore, the Forum urged Senator Akume to prioritize resolving internal conflicts within the APC’s state chapters across the North-Central. They acknowledged that disagreements are sometimes unavoidable in politics but stressed the importance of preventing these conflicts from overshadowing the party’s collective interests. The Forum appealed to all stakeholders to prioritize party unity and work towards resolving any outstanding issues.
In a related development, the North-Central APC Forum specifically called on the Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, to formally recognize Senator George Akume as the APC leader in the region and to collaborate with him for the betterment of the party’s interests. Governor Alia has reportedly been in a disagreement with Senator Akume regarding the party’s leadership structure in Benue State, leading to divisions within the state chapter. The Forum encouraged Governor Alia to embrace Akume’s leadership role within the North-Central zone, emphasizing that unity and progress should be the paramount goals for all party members.
