APC seeks to woo back Saraki and other prominent north central zone political heavyweights

NIGERIA'S ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is seeking to woo back former senate president Senator Bukola Saraki and several other key power brokers from across the north central geo-political zone like ex-governors Gabriel Suswam and Samuel Ortom.

Senator Saraki was once a member of the APC and was elected on the party's platform as the Kwara State governor and as a senator. However, he later fell out with the party and decamped to the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who he stood as a candidate for at the last election.

However, the APC's North Central Forum has urged Senator Saraki and other elders and leaders in the region to rejoin the APC. In a statement issued earlier today, the forum said only the APC administration led by President Bola Tinubu can guarantee the interests of the north central geo-political zone.

Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, the forum chairman and a member of the APC presidential campaign council in the 2023 election, said that unlike the neglect and marginalisation the region suffered when the PDP was in power, the people of the north central zone are now enjoying the dividends of democracy due to the magnanimity of the APC government of President Tinubu. He identified the north central leaders who needed to join the APC as ex-senate president David Mark, former Plateau State governor Jonah Jang, ex-Niger State governor Babangida Aliyu, Senator Saraki and former Benue governors Suswam and Ortom, as well as former PDP national chairman Professor Iyorchia Ayu.

 “We urge them to consider the development of the region before party interest. They should consider APC because that is the party that is good to the north central zone. The people of the north central zone are receiving the dividends of democracy under the APC government led by President Bola Tinubu and that is why we were the first to endorse him for a second term.

“These north central elders and political leaders should put party aside and put the interest of the zone first by joining the APC. We urge them to give Mr President the moral support to continue transforming the fortunes of the zone,” Alhaji Zazzaga added.

He pointed out that major road networks in the north central zone, which suffered neglect during the PDP years, are now receiving the attention of the federal government. Further highlighting why the APC is best for the north central zone, Alhaji Zazzaga pointed to the recent establishment of the North Central Development Commission following the signing of the enactment bill by the president.