The expected entrance of Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso into the All Progressives Congress (APC) fold forces Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to exit the ruling party
As politicking for the 2027 general elections gathers momentum with insinuations that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is wooing former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a development that has forced Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to suddenly resign his position as Chairman of the party
Ganduje, who governed Kano State from 2015 to 2023, announced his resignation with immediate effect having learnt that President Tinubu has virtually persuaded Kwankwaso, who is Ganduje’s mortal rival, to defect to the party.
But the move seems to have confirmed fears in certain quarters that the President has lost political grounds in the North East and North West coupled with mounting concerns that Tinubu is considering dropping Kashim Shettima as his vice prior to 2027
A senior official at the APC national secretariat, who craved anonymity, argued that the development was accurate, saying, “Between me and you, it is true, but I can’t confirm officially-and please don’t quote me.”
Another source said Ganduje will be replaced by one of the party’s national vice chairmen in an acting capacity, pending the convention scheduled for December as his exit comes amid a flurry of recent public engagements that appeared at odds with his stated health concerns.
Earlier on Friday, June 27, 2025, he led the APC National Working Committee (NWC) on a condolence visit to Governor of Niger State, Umaru Bago, at the state liaison office in Abuja.
They offered their sympathies over the devastating Mokwa flood, which has claimed over 200 lives and displaced thousands, as well as a spate of bandit attacks in Mariga Local Government Area.
On Thursday, June 26, 2025, Ganduje, who was accompanied by APC National Secretary, Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, attended the second quarterly consultative meeting between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and political party leaders at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The resignation marks the end of Ganduje’s short, but controversial tenure as APC chairman, which began in August 2023 following his appointment by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
His leadership had been dogged by legal battles, factional disputes within the Kano chapter of the party, and resistance from key APC stakeholders.
Now, attention shifts to the prospect of Kwankwaso joining the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
A former Kano governor and presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in 2023, Kwankwaso remains one of the most influential and formidable political figures in the North.
Following Ganduje’s exit, Deputy National Chairman, North, of APC, Alhaji Bukar Dalori, has emerged the Acting National Chairman of the party.
Section 14(2) of the APC Constitution (as amended) stipulates the duties of a Deputy National Chairman of the party among which is to assist the National Chairman in the discharge of his duties.
In Section 14(2)(iii), the constitution states that, “the Deputy National Chairman shall act as the National Chairman in the absence of the National Chairman from his zone.”
Although the circumstances surrounding Ganduje’s resignation remain sketchy as of press time, a top party official said, “Yes, it is true. He has resigned.”
While it was learnt that his aides had earlier moved his personal effects from his office at the national secretariat, there was seeming confusion at the premises as both staff and visitors received the news with shock.
It was reliably gathered that the former Kano State governor resigned based on health grounds, but party sources said consideration for the zoning of vice presidency was one of the reasons.
“A lot of people are scheming to be picked as running mate to President Tinubu in 2027. If you check even your own media reports, many of the names being touted are from the North West. If eventually the slot is taken to the North West, the party chairman will definitely have to come from another place.
“Do not also forget that the position of national chairman was actually officially zoned to the North Central. So, we are likely to see the emergence of a new chairman from the North Central”, a source said.
When asked who the next chairman could be, one of the sources said a former Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Umar Tanko Almakura came top on the list.
