Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Wase Federal Constituency of Plateau South have rejected calls for the relocation of the constituency’s zoning arrangement away from Bashar, reaffirming their support for the incumbent lawmaker, Rt. Hon. Idris Maje, ahead of the party’s forthcoming primaries.
The position was made known during a press conference held in Wase on Thursday, where party leaders and stakeholders dismissed agitation by some groups seeking to alter the zoning formula to prevent Maje, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, from re-contesting in 2027.
The stakeholders described the calls as unnecessary and politically motivated, insisting that the current zoning arrangement which favors Bashar should be maintained.
The meeting was convened following a rally reportedly organized on Wednesday by a group advocating for the constituency seat to be zoned out of Bashar to allow another APC aspirant emerge.
Speaking after the meeting, prominent stakeholders including Alhaji Abdullahi Salihu, Alhaji Musa Sa’ad, Abdullahi Useni Sadiq, Mrs. Lohya James, Hamisu Suleiman, and Ali Nuhu, unanimously rejected the proposal, maintaining that Maje remains the most qualified and widely accepted candidate.
They commended the lawmaker’s track record, citing his legislative contributions and developmental strides across the constituency.
According to them, Maje’s tenure has attracted several federal government projects to Wase, including employment opportunities, infrastructure development, and educational institutions.
They specifically highlighted the facilitation of over 8,000 pensionable federal government jobs, drilling of more than 400 boreholes, and the establishment of key institutions such as a police academy and a study centre of the National Open University in the constituency.
Chairman of defectors into the APC, Alhaji Musa Sa’ad, downplayed the influence of those calling for zoning realignment, describing them as a negligible group.
He expressed confidence that Maje would secure victory in the party primaries and retain his seat in the House of Representatives in 2027.
Sa’ad further revealed that the APC in the area has witnessed a significant influx of new members, with over 17,000 individuals reportedly defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into the APC, boosting the party’s strength ahead of the elections.
He added that both the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act permit Maje to recontest, stressing that there are no legal barriers to his participation in the primaries.
However, the gathering reportedly witnessed a brief disturbance linked to disagreements over the zoning issue, as some youths protested the stance of the stakeholders. Security operatives were said to have intervened, using minimal force to restore calm.
Despite the incident, party leaders reiterated their commitment to unity within the APC and pledged continued support for Maje’s candidacy.
