The North-Central All Progressives Congress Forum has urged first-term APC governors in the region to improve their performance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The forum made the call on Sunday after its second-quarter stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, saying the governors’ achievements could play a major role in their chances of securing second terms.
The forum, led by its Chairman, Saleh Zazzaga, said the APC’s goal was to retain control of all six North-Central states after the 2027 elections.
The first-term governors seeking re-election in the region are Ahmed Ododo of Kogi State, Hyacinth Alia of Benue, Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger and Caleb Muftwang of Plateau State. The governors of Kwara and Nasarawa, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Abdullahi Sule, are already serving their second terms.
The group asked the first-term governors to increase their efforts in delivering projects and services that directly affect residents as the election draws closer.
It said areas such as security, agriculture, education, job creation, youth and women empowerment, economic development and the general welfare of citizens should receive more attention.
The forum also praised the governors of Niger and Plateau states for what it described as progress recorded in their respective states.
According to the group, Bago’s administration has undertaken several infrastructure and industrial projects in Niger State, including road construction, flyovers, a solar farm and industrial park, urban renewal projects and a housing estate.
In Plateau State, the forum said Muftwang’s administration had also carried out infrastructure, agriculture and tourism projects, including the Mangu bypass and the Plateau Potato Value Chain Project.
The group said the two governors had also taken steps to improve security, support workers and expand economic opportunities in their states.
Despite the commendation, the forum urged the other first-term governors in the zone to do more before the 2027 polls.
It said stronger performance across the region would give the APC a better chance of retaining its hold on the North-Central states.
The forum also expressed confidence in its earlier plan to deliver six million votes from the North-Central to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
The group had endorsed Tinubu for a second term in December 2024, becoming one of the early political groups in the region to declare support for his re-election bid.
The APC Forum said it would continue working towards keeping the North-Central under the control of the ruling party while urging its governors to strengthen their connection with the people through better governance and improved public services.