By; SIMON SHANGO
I had earlier written an article titled, “The Making and Unmaking of a Vice President” in response to Dr. Reuben Abati’s intervention on the growing debate surrounding the future of the Vice Presidency within the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In that article, I argued that the time had come for Nigeria to abandon the Muslim-Muslim ticket arrangement and return to the established principle of religious balancing that has largely characterized the Fourth Republic from 1999 to date.
In making that case, I examined a number of distinguished Nigerians whose names had surfaced in public discussions regarding a possible vice-presidential replacement. Among those considered were Hon. Yakubu Dogara, former Speaker of the House of Representatives; General Christopher Musa, formerly Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff and presently the Honourable Minister of Defence; Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, one of Nigeria’s most respected moral voices; and other notable personalities with proven records of public service.
After carefully examining their credentials, experience, political reach, and national acceptability, I concluded that Senator George Akume, CON, the current Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), possesses the qualities that make him the most suitable candidate should the APC decide to revisit its vice-presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 elections
Recent political developments have only strengthened that argument.President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has emerged as the presidential candidate of the APC and is yet to announce his running mate.
Mr. Peter Obi has emerged as the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and has promptly selected Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his running mate, thereby, immediately restoring the Christian-Muslim balance that has long been familiar to Nigerians.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who has emerged as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), is also widely expected to select a Christian running mate, most likely from either the South-West or South-East, in order to achieve both regional and religious balance.
These developments make it imperative for the APC to critically re-examine its own political calculations.
The first issue is electoral strategy.
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has emerged from the North-East geopolitical zone. Given his political pedigree, network, and influence in that region, there is little doubt that he will aggressively pursue votes across the North-East and secure significant support there.
The region is also predominantly Muslim, meaning that retaining another Muslim candidate from the same zone may no longer provide the APC with any meaningful electoral advantage.
The Christian population in the North-East, while important, is neither sufficiently large nor politically concentrated enough to serve as a decisive balancing factor.
Consequently, if the APC seeks to strengthen its appeal among Christian voters in Northern Nigeria, its attention must naturally shift to the North-Central.
The North-Central remains the most strategically important geopolitical zone in Northern Nigeria for purposes of religious balancing. Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kogi, Kwara, Niger States and the Federal Capital Territory collectively contain millions of Christian voters, with Benue and Plateau serving as the strongest centres of Christian political influence.
The APC is blessed with an array of credible leaders from the region. Among them are Senator Simon Bako Lalong, former Governor of Plateau State; Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State; and former Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, all of whom have made substantial contributions to the growth and stability of the party.
Yet among this distinguished group, Senator George Akume remains uniquely qualified.
His political journey is a remarkable story of loyalty, patience, and service. He has served as Governor of Benue State, Senator of the Federal Republic, Senate Minority Leader, Minister of the Federal Republic, and now Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Long before the APC emerged as Nigeria’s ruling party, Akume stood firmly with the progressive movement in difficult times. There was a period when he was virtually the most prominent progressive Senator from Northern Nigeria, carrying the burden of opposition politics and eventually emerging as Senate Minority Leader.
His commitment to party building, consensus leadership, and national unity has never been questioned.
His patience is legendary. His humility is widely acknowledged. His ability to work with diverse political interests has earned him respect across party lines, religious affiliations, and regional divides.
Beyond the individual qualities of Senator Akume lies another important factor: the strategic significance of Benue State.
In the 2023 elections, when many Christian-majority states overwhelmingly supported a Christian presidential candidate, Benue State made a different choice. The state voted substantially for the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket in what many considered a demonstration of political maturity and commitment to national stability.
That sacrifice should not be forgotten.Politics thrives on reciprocity. When a people demonstrate loyalty during difficult moments, wise leadership recognizes and rewards such commitment. Benue’s support for the APC during a challenging electoral cycle provides a compelling reason why the state deserves serious consideration in the party’s future calculations.
Furthermore, Benue occupies a unique position within the Middle Belt. Historically, many minority groups across the region closely observe political developments in Benue and often align their choices accordingly.
The state’s influence extends well beyond its geographical boundaries. Today, every major geopolitical bloc appears to have secured a significant stake in the unfolding political contest.
The South-West holds the presidency. The South-East has produced a major presidential candidate. The North-East has also produced a major presidential candidate. Yet the North-Central remains the only major zone without a corresponding stake at the highest level of the emerging political equation.
If the APC intends to broaden its electoral coalition, consolidate support among Christian voters, strengthen its appeal across the Middle Belt, and demonstrate its commitment to inclusion, then the North-Central offers the most logical pathway.
And if the North-Central is to be considered, Senator George Akume stands out as one of its most experienced, loyal, competent, and nationally acceptable leaders.
The APC must think beyond sentiment and focus on the electoral realities of 2027. It must identify where the additional votes required for victory are likely to come from. It must determine which political decision will strengthen national cohesion while improving its electoral prospects.
The answer is becoming increasingly clear.
The road to victory in 2027 may well pass through the North-Central. More specifically, it may pass through Benue State.
The APC would be wise to pay attention. For in politics, timing is everything, and the time to recognize the strategic importance of the North-Central is now
Simon Shango, MFR, a veteran journalist, writes from Abuja