Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, the immediate past governor of Kano State, has emerged as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Sen. Abubakar Kyari, the APC acting National Chairman said this at the end of the 12th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party on Wednesday in Abuja.
Kyari said that Ganduje was unanimous endorsed at the meeting as the new chairman of the party.
Ganduje in his acceptance speech, expressed gratitude to Almighty God for the development.
āI am indeed most humbled,ā Ganduje said, while appreciating President Bola Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima and the partyās leadership, assuring that he remained committed to the partyās ideals,ā he said.
He thanked the Progressive Governorās Forum (PGF) and the partyās key stakeholders for their dedication, diligence and strategic role to its development.
āWith boundless gratitude for the confidence placed in me by leaders and members of our party, and with an unswerving resolve to honour that trust, I humbly accept my appointment as the Chairman of our party, the APC.
āOur main focus will be promoting party unity and defending and increasing the number of executive and legislative seats we currently hold.
āUnder my watch, internal democracy will be strictly adhered to with a deliberate policy to engage in wider consultations and making party functional throughout the year.
āMore reforms will be carried out in the party in alignment with the current political landscape
āWe all agreed that we must unite our members to achieve support for our government to respond adequately, urgently and assertively to the challenges that Nigerians confront on a daily basis,ā Ganduje said.
He listed the challenges to include: unemployment, poverty, insecurity, social cohesion and the rising cost of living.
He appealed to Nigerians to bear with Tinubu at the countryās trying moment, considering that the countryās economy had been in shambles for years.
āI belief the policies and programmes to be unveiled by Tinubu when his administration fully takes shape, will surely turn around things for the better.
āOur party must remain rooted among the people, must demonstrate a willingness to serve and make sacrifices, and must be willing to acknowledge and address our weaknesses.
āIt is a huge privilege and an honour and a great responsibility to take on this job and I will do it with everything I have to the best of my ability for my party and my country.
āWe will ensure a level playing field for all party members that want to contest elections under the partyās platform. Our primary elections would be free, transparent and fair,ā Ganduje said.
He called on members of the party and all the people of Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa to close ranks and ensure that the APC won in the forthcoming governorship election.
He promised to depend on the support of party members to deliver on his new responsibility.
Ganduje will takeover the partyās leadership from Sen. Abdullahi Adamu who resigned after being accused of high-handedness and mismanaging the partyās financial resources.(NAN)