By George Okoh

A group of All Progressives Congress (APC) members in Benue State known as Concerned APC Forum (CAF), has asked a former governor of the state, George Akume to step down for another former governor from Nasarawa State, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, in the race for APC chairmanship.

While also calling on the party to present a consensus candidàte in the forth coming national convention of the party, the group particularly called on other chairmanship aspirantscampaigning to settle for the Tanko Al-makura.

According to the Chairman of the group, Ambassador Terkura Fanem, who spoke on Monday in Makurdi, the group, having cross-checked all those seeking the position from the North Central states, Almakura stood shoulder above others following his record as a builder and unifying personality.

He said the group did a study of those who had shown interest in the race and came out with a verdict to support Almakura.

“As you can see, we are from Benue but we view Almakura as a distriabalised Nigerian, who can bring and unify the APC for the 2023 election. Al-makura also has an enviable record modernising Nasarawa state,” he said.

He, therefore, urged Akume, who is the Minister of Special Duties and Inter Governmental Affairs, to withdraw from the race and support Al-Makura for the unity of the party.

“The people of the North central view Al-Makura as an effective strategist that will take the APC to a greater hight if elected chairman of the party.

Also, its Vice Chairman, Mr. Patrick Ocheme, said 2023 zoning of the governorship position should favour the people of Benue South.

He said since the creation of Benue State, nobody from the zone had been considered for the position, adding that now that the other two zones have rotated the position on four occasions among them, it would be best the south is considered.