APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje Resigns Amid Kwankwaso’s Possible Defection

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, resigned from his position effective immediately, ending a turbulent tenure that lasted less than a year.

Ganduje, a former governor of Kano State (2015–2023), submitted his resignation on Friday amid strong speculation that President Bola Tinubu is negotiating the return of his longtime rival, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.

Insiders at the APC national secretariat revealed that Tinubu’s push to reconcile with Kwankwaso, a former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), played a key role in Ganduje’s exit.

“Between me and you, it is true, but I can’t confirm officially, and please don’t quote me,” a senior APC official disclosed.

With Ganduje’s departure, the party’s national vice chairman from his geo-political zone, Ali Bukar Dalori, has replaced him.

Dalori is expected to serve as acting chairman until the APC’s national convention in December.

Ganduje’s resignation came hours after he led the APC National Working Committee on a condolence visit to Niger State Governor Umaru Bago over recent floods and bandit attacks in Mokwa.

His tenure as APC chairman, which began in August 2023, was marred by legal battles, internal disputes, and growing dissent within the Kano APC, fueled by his long-standing feud with Kwankwaso.

Though Ganduje cited personal reasons for stepping down, he remained active in public engagements until Thursday, attending a meeting between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and political parties in Abuja.

In a statement, APC spokesman Felix Morka confirmed the resignation, stating that Ganduje thanked President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve.

Tinubu has since directed Deputy National Chairman (North) Abubakar Kyari to assume the role of acting chairman pending a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to ratify a replacement.

Ganduje’s exit shifts political focus to Kwankwaso, a prominent northern leader whose potential defection could reshape the APC’s dynamics ahead of 2027.

Ganduje, who was also appointed Chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in January 2025, faced criticism over alleged violations of the party’s zoning arrangement when he assumed the APC leadership.

His departure marks another chapter in the ruling party’s evolving power struggles.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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