From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
The crisis rocking the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) took a new dimension yesterday as a chieftain of the party, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, has given the embattled National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, seven days to tender his letter of resignation.
In a letter to the national chairman, Zazzaga said if Ganduje refused to step down after the expiration of the ultimatum, he would file a legal action against him.
Zazzaga, chairman of North Central APC Forum, who also served as member, Stakeholders’ Relations of Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, addressed newsmen in Jos, yesterday, and explained that at the national convention of the party held on March 28, 2022, the position was zoned to the North Central not North West region, where Ganduje hails from.
This, he said, was 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 geopolitical zone, and particularly to Nasarawa State.
He said it would be on record that he had deployed diverse mechanisms to resolve the matter amicably, but Ganduje was insistent on occupying the position which he’s not entitled to.
The letter read in part: “The appointment of His Excellency Abdullahi Ganduje, 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 jealousy and jettisoned the zoning arrangement, thereby bringing the party to disrepute and further deepening the rancour, distrust and divisions among 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 Ganduje 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 Ganduje 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’s 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.
“Take notice that failure to adhere to the options stated above within seven 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 to you.”
Zazzaga also copied President Bola Tinubu, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Speaker House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, the National Working Committee and the National Advisory Council of the APC.