Sunny Moniedafe: The right man for the office of APC Deputy National chairman, North
By Mohammed Ismail
As the All Progressives Congress (APC) faces the arduous task of convening congresses from ward to national levels ahead of its national convention, the party is again on the throes of another history marking another defining point in its chequered history. A point that needs critical and decisive action.
It is a time when another set of people will occupy various offices in the party in preparation for another round of national elections.
One office that is at the center of the party’s administration and leadership control, is the office of the deputy national chairman, North. Selecting the right candidate at that level of leadership must be a top priority of the party in view of the critical role the North is expected to play in galvanizing massive support for the second term ambition of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
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At such a critical moment, the APC requires not just a replacement, but a leader of superior pedigree, aura, and network; someone with depth, balance, national recognition and an unassailable record of patriotism and loyalty.
Among the array of aspirants, one name stands tall with all the requirements of the job in his favour. That man is Chief Sunny Sylvester Moniedafe, an amiable leader with a heart of gold, solid credentials, proven organisational competence, and rare ideological consistency. Moniedafe is the only candidate who embodies the qualities required to consolidate Salihu’ strong foundation and make APC the strongest political force in the region.
Moniedafe’s competence did not come by accident or luck. It was earned by decades of engagement, advocacies, struggles in party politics, civic mobilisation, public intellectual discourses and faith-based community leadership.
Born on 23 September 1956 at Jimeta General Hospital, Adamawa State, and of Urhobo extraction, Moniedafe’s life story is itself a powerful symbol of inclusive citizenship. Though ancestrally Urhobo, his identity, loyalty and political destiny are firmly rooted in Adamawa State, where he was born, raised and has consistently served.
From an early age, growing up in the multicultural environment of Jimeta-Yola shaped his worldview. It instilled in him a deep rejection of ethnic chauvinism, and religious bigotry and build in him a lifelong commitment to what he terms “Changing the Narratives and Thinking Outside the Box.” For Moniedafe, citizenship is not defined by ancestral geography but by contribution, service and lived responsibility. This philosophy has earned him broad acceptance across ethnic, religious and political divides, particularly in Adamawa, where he is widely regarded as a true son of the soil.
His political journey predates the APC era. As a committed member of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Moniedafe rose through the ranks by sheer hard work, ideological discipline and grassroots mobilisation. Between 2007 and 2010, he served as Chairman of the ACN in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), a position that placed him at the heart of national politics. During this period, he played active roles in mandate recovery struggles that eventually produced governors like Dr. Kayode Fayemi in Ekiti and Engr. Rauf Aregbesola in Osun.
Notably, his political courage was tested when he openly supported Mallam Nuhu Ribadu’s presidential ambition, a principled stance that cost him a second term as FCT chairman. Yet, this episode only cemented his reputation as a man who places ideology and conviction above personal comfort.
With the formation of the APC, Chief Moniedafe remained a steadfast party builder. He chaired the APC Plateau State Gubernatorial and House of Assembly Primaries Committee, which successfully produced Governor Simon Lalong. He also led several Vice-Presidential Town Hall engagements for Prof. Yemi Osinbajo in Enugu, Akwa Ibom and Adamawa States, including high-level inter-faith consultations with Christian leaders in Jimeta-Yola. His involvement in sensitive national assignments, ranging from screening panels and conventions to security planning and campaign logistics, portrays the trust reposed in him by the party leadership.
Perhaps most instructive is his record of sacrifice for the sake of the party’s growth and consolidation. It was on record at least on three occasions, Moniedafe stepped down from high-level ambitions in obedience to party zoning, consensus building and strategic necessity. Even as a senior Pentecostal pastor from the North East, he publicly supported the APC’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, choosing party unity and constitutional order over sectarian sentiments. This rare maturity earned him respect across religious and regional boundaries.
Beyond politics, his civic engagements span international diplomacy and sports administration. He was part of Nigeria’s delegation to the 63rd UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York in 2019 and has served in leadership roles within the Nigerian Volleyball Federation and continental sports events, reflecting his passion for youth development and national representation.
Educated at the University of Maiduguri and the University of Lagos, with doctoral training in policy analysis, Chief Moniedafe combines intellectual depth with practical political experience. Multilingual, calm in temperament and administratively meticulous, he is widely respected for mediation, mentorship and inclusive leadership, qualities that earned him the community title “Jagaban Jimeta.”
In a moment when the APC North East requires steadiness, vision and moral authority, Chief Sunny Sylvester Moniedafe stands as the most fitting and prepared personality to serve as National Vice Chairman, North East. His life of service, sacrifice and inclusive politics makes him not just a change of baton, but a strategic replacement for the party’s future.
Ismail, the editor-in-chief of FACTCHECKNEWS writes from Yola.
