As the All Progressives Congress (APC) prepares to hold its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting this Thursday, momentum is building behind calls for former Nasarawa State Governor, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, to emerge as the next national chairman of the party.
Leading the charge is the APC National Youth Ambassadors, a prominent pressure group within the ruling party, which has publicly urged President Bola Tinubu and other party leaders to support Al-Makura’s elevation to the top party position.
The group, in a joint statement signed by its National Chairman, Engr. Kabiru Abdulhamid; Deputy Chairman (South), Dominic Odigo; National Women Leader, Hon. Salma Musa; and South-South Women Leader, Hon. Rita Embiowei, praised the President’s recent appointment of Al-Makura as Chairman of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), describing it as a recognition of competence and integrity.
A Tested and Loyal Party Man
“Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura distinguished himself as a governor and a senator. He is a tested and loyal party man who we think is the best man the APC needs right now,” the statement read.
The group argued that the North Central geopolitical zone, which previously held the chairmanship through Senator Abdullahi Adamu before his resignation, should retain the slot in the spirit of fairness and zoning equity. They pointed out that Al-Makura, also from the North Central region, is well-positioned to provide unifying leadership for the party at a time of growing political realignment.
The APC National Youth Ambassadors noted that the countdown to the 2027 general elections has already begun and stressed the need for a chairman with both grassroots appeal and national reach.
“We strongly believe that Senator Al-Makura fits this bill because his relationship with the people and influence cuts across the six geo-political zones of the country,” the group said, adding that his leadership could help consolidate President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and deliver electoral victory.
They also appealed to the NEC to prioritise unity, capacity, and national cohesion in choosing the party’s next leader.
Growing Influence within APC Circles
Al-Makura, who served as governor of Nasarawa State from 2011 to 2019 and then as a senator, has long been seen as a stabilising figure within APC ranks. His leadership style and loyalty to party structures have earned him respect across various factions of the party.
Observers say the current push by youth and women leaders within the APC to back his candidacy signals growing grassroots momentum, especially at a time when the party is seeking to solidify internal cohesion ahead of the 2027 polls.
With the NEC meeting looming, attention now turns to whether President Tinubu and other power brokers in the party will heed the call to hand over the reins of the APC to Al-Makura.
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