Ahead of the March 26 National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari has confirmed Abdullahi Adamu, a former governor of Nasarawa State as his preferred choice to become the National Chairman of the ruling party, a reliable source told FidelinfoNews.

The reliable source present at the meeting said the president endorsed Senator Abdullahi Adamu, who chaired the reconciliation committee of the party, during his meeting with APC governors at the State House.

“As a forum, we have met with President Buhari for further discussion on his preferred candidate as National Chairman and he has again confirmed Senator Abdullahi Adamu as the man for the big task ahead,’’ the source said.

With this arrangement, Sen. Adamu will take over from Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni who has been piloting the affairs of the party for almost two years after the National Convention on Saturday, March 26, 2022.

After a meeting held in February with President Muhammadu Buhari, rumors began circulating that the body language of the president favoured Abdullahi Adamu, a two-term governor of Nasarawa State, who has been at the Senate since 2011 but joined the chairmanship race only weeks ago.

With the endorsement the national convention would only ratify the endorsement as done in June 2018 when Adams Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State, emerged as the party’s national chairman.

“The president, at a brief meeting held in February, told us that the party chairman should come from the North Central and that the person should be Senator Abdullahi Adamu. Nobody disagreed with him. He has said it again today before leaving to commission Dangote Group’s Fertilizer Plant in Lagos,” the source said.

With the presidential endorsement, all other aspirants vying for the chairmanship seat are expected to begin to withdraw from the race.

“Some of the APC governors initially nominated a former governor of Nasarawa State, Tanko Al-Makura; some nominated a former minister for Mines and Steel Development, Abubakar Bawa Bwari; some wanted the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume and others rooted for Senator Mohammed Sani Musa but the President has reiterated he would like Abdullahi Adamu to become the chairman,” the source said.

In line with the President’s endorsement, a former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has shelved his ambition to be national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking  at a press conference in Abuja, on Sunday, Sheriff said he chose to opt out of the race because it was not zoned to his region.

He said, “The President has taken a position. I have always told you that I will contest if it is zoned to my zone. I respect Mr President because he is my leader. He has a reason for saying the position should be zoned to the North-Central.

“I don’t want to draw a line. I don’t want to oppose the President in any way. So I will not contest unless they change their mind between now and Saturday. I won’t contest an election that is clearly zoned out of my zone.”

The Borno ex-governor had earlier said that he would abide by President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision on who becomes the party’s next helmsman.

Similarly, ahead of Saturday’s national convention of the All Progressive Congress, a frontline national chairmanship aspirant of the party from Zamfara State, Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has also withdrawn from the race.

Shinkafi, who spoke at a press conference on Monday night in his residence in Gusau, said he withdrew from the race to respect the party and President Muhammadu Buhari decision to zone the position to the North Central.

Shinkafi maintained that he decided to withdraw from the race as a party man who respected the rules of law and the party’s leaders.

“I am sure that most of you have been following the trends of activities of our party, the APC within the last two weeks.

“The party has taken a position that the position of its national chairman should go to the North Central zone and I respect the supremely of the party.

“The President is the leader of the party and he has taken a position. I have always told you that I will contest if the position is zoned to my zone.

“That has been my statement always, and today they have taken a position. I respect the president as a person and as a president, he is my leader, therefore, I do not want to oppose him in any way or form,” Shinkafi stated.

He further explained that he was withdrawing from the race because he wanted to follow the rule of law, saying that it was not correct for anybody to do otherwise.

“I Sani Abdullahi Wamban Shinkafi will not offer myself for the contest of the APC national chairmanship position slated for Saturday, March 26, because it has been zoned out of my zone.

“I am from the North West. The North Central where the position had been zoned to is made of Kogi, Kwara, Benue, Nasarawa, and Plateau, these are the places where the party’s next national chairman will come from.

“Zamfara is North-West of Nigeria. I want you to communicate to all our followers, men and women across the country so that they do not expect to see my name on the ballot paper.”

He also expressed total support to the party’s decision to zone the position of the President to the South, adding, “It is a good decision and will make our party remain stronger and more united.”

He thanked all the APC stakeholders for the support and cooperation they have given him in his struggle to contest for the post of the national chairman of the party.

He particularly thanked Governor Bello Mattawale, Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, Senator Aliyu Wamakko, and Senator Rochas Okorocha for their unflinching support and encouragement.

More APC Chairmanship candidates are expected to step down from the race for Senator Abdullahi Adamu in line with the President’s endorsement of his candidacy before the National Convention.

The APC convention is scheduled for Saturday and preparations are currently ongoing.