Alhaji Saliu Mustapha, an aspirant for the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairmanship, has promised equity to all members of the party, if elected.

Mustapha gave the promise on Friday in Abuja when the Chairman of the APC, Keffi Chapter in Nasarawa, Alhaji Mohammed Bello, led a delegation on a visit to endorse his candidature.

The delegation included serving and former members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, former local government chairmen and the political adviser to the governor.

Mustapha said, “For me, it is a major endorsement and it shows the level of acceptability we are gaining and the mileage we are covering every day.

“We hope and pray that this kind of endorsement will continue to come as the days go by.

“I promise a level playing ground for all members and will ensure that popular candidates emerged at all elections under my watch as the national chairman of the APC.

“In the past, I have also appealed to my fellow aspirants for this position to give me the opportunity and endorse my candidature.’’

He said that if given the opportunity, he would lead the party to victory in all elections.

Mustapha said that he was proud of the party’s achievements so far, adding that he was also proud that the APC under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has stabilised the country.

Mustapha, a former Deputy National Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC), said he would galvernise the party’s goodwill and support through campaigns for the younger generation.

He said he believed the APC was for the younger generation, saying that it was time for men and women of good conscience to support the party.

“As a bridge builder, these are some of the reasons we believe that we must not fold our hands and sit back,’’ Mustapha who is also the Turaki of Ilorin said.

He said if elected as the APC’s next national chairman, he would ensure a team work.

Mustapha expressed confidence that the APC national convention would hold in February as approved by President Buhari in spite of insinuations in some quarters that the exercise might not hold.

“I am not worried, to be honest the convention will hold and I am certain that those managing the party’s Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee’s (CECPC) know what they are doing.

“I applaud what they have done so far, it is work in progress and we don’t have that rancorous situation in the APC that will warrant us not to hold the convention.

“I am sure that in the next rounds of meetings by the weekend, they will be bringing out the convention timetable and also possibly announce the zoning arrangements,’’ Mustapha said.

He dismissed insinuations that the APC was neck deep in crises in some of its state chapters, a development most people believe may degenerate if not resolved ahead of the party’s national convention.

Mustapha, however, noted that in politics, there must always be room for divergent opinions which help to strengthen a political party.

He expressed the hope that the Sen. Abudulahi Adamu-led National Reconciliation Committee would resolve all contending issues in the party, adding that there was no need for panic.

Earlier, Bello assured the aspirants that the APC Keffi Chapter would support him.

“You are well deserving of the position (national chairman); you have the age. We know your antecedent since the CPC days and we strongly believe this is your time to move the APC forward,’’ Bello said.

No fewer than 11 aspirants are contesting the APC national chairmanship position.

They include a former governor of Nasarawa , Tanko Almakura, former two terms governor of Borno, Ali-Modu Sheriff and the senator representing Niger East Constituency, Mohammed Sani-Musa.

Others are former governors of Zamfara, Abdulaziz Yari, Bauchi, Isa Yuguda, Borno, Kashim Shettima, Gombe, Danjuma Goje, Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, George Akume, Sunny Moniedafe and Mohammed Saidu.(NAN)