By Augustine Akhilomen
Last week sudden exit of the former Kano State governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may not have come as a surprise to many political watchers considering the wave of corruption allegations leveled against him prior to his appointment as APC chair and also his alleged rejection of former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso’s move to join the ruling party.
Since the formation of the APC in 2013, the party has had six national chairmen, most of whom left office under controversial circumstances.
The six chairmen are Chief Bisi Akande (2013–2014), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun (2014–2018), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole (2018–2020), Mai Mala Buni (2020–2022), Senator Abdullahi Adamu (2022–2023), and Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (2023–2025).
Adding fuel to the political intrigue are growing speculations that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may be considering replacing Vice President Kashim Shettima with Kwankwaso as his running mate in 2027.
Even so, some APC stakeholders reportedly believe Kwankwaso carries greater electoral weight, particularly in Kano State, North west and in Northern Nigeria, than the current vice president.
This political scenario appears not to have gone down well with Ganduje, who has never been on good terms with Kwankwaso, his former boss. The strained relationship between Ganduje and Kwankwaso dates back to their time in Kano politics. Both men once shared a political alliance under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), with Kwankwaso serving as governor between 1999 and 2003 and again from 2011 to 2015. Ganduje served as his deputy during the latter’s tenure.
Their political friendship soured after Ganduje succeeded Kwankwaso as governor in 2015 under the APC banner. Since then, the two have been bitter rivals, frequently clashing over Kano’s political influence.
It will be noted that Ganduje took over the reins of the APC chairmanship from Abdullahi Adamu in August 2023, in a move seen by President Bola Tinubu to consolidate his hold on the party. Since his emergence, there have been mounting calls within the party for the chairmanship seat to revert to the North Central geopolitical zone, from where the former Chairman, Adamu hails from.
Sources close to the party said that Ganduje, who hails from Kano in the Northwest region, was persuaded to resign amid growing internal opposition and strategic repositioning as APC looks ahead to the 2027 general elections.
The removal of Ganduje therefore comes amidst a backdrop of intense political maneuvering within the party with factions vying for influence and control ahead of the party’s critical electoral challenges.
In truth, since Ganduje’s appointment, internal opposition within the APC has steadily increased, with critics questioning his leadership style and ability to unify the diverse factions within the party. Hence, the party’s decision to accept Ganduje’s resignation without contest underscores the delicate balancing act the APC leadership is undertaking to maintain cohesion.
Ganduje’s sacking may also be interpreted as a gesture aimed at smoothing factional differences and avoiding protracted conflicts within the party ranks. “Ostensibly, the President supported his removal to strategically restructure the leadership of the party and put it on a sound footing ahead of the 2007 general elections. Ganduje’s poor leadership style and the many allegations against him by members did help matters”, says a top APC member who craved anonymity.
Reacting to the development, Ayobada Olushola, who is a political commentator, told Thepledge that the shift in leadership could signal a renewed focus on party unity and grassroots mobilization as APC prepares for the 2027 polls.
“The recent change in leadership within the APC marks more than just a personnel adjustment; it signals a strategic recalibration ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“There’s growing recognition that party unity will be crucial for electoral success, especially with shifting voter sentiments and increasing political awareness at the grassroots level. The leadership appears to be aligning its strategies to reconnect with the base, rebuild trust, and energize loyal supporters.
“What we’re likely to see in the coming months is a more coordinated push for grassroots mobilization, stronger party discipline, and a focus on inclusion across regional and ideological lines. The APC seems intent on presenting a cohesive front not just to win elections, but to restore credibility and confidence among its core supporters.”
The APC’s national executive council is expected to meet soon to formalize the appointment of the acting chairman and outline the roadmap towards electing a new leader.
Party insiders reveal that the leadership change is part of a broader strategy to re-energize the APC’s organizational structure and strengthen its electoral machinery.
Among those reportedly vying for the top party post is Senator Umar Tanko Al-Makura, a former governor of Nasarawa State. However, reports further suggested that influential party figures are now considering Senator George Akume, the current Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), as a potential candidate.
Another name on the list is Joshua Dariye, a seasoned politician from Plateau State and known ally of President Bola Tinubu, who is being speculated to emerge as the next APC national chairman. Both Dariye and Tinubu served as governors from 1999 to 2007, forging a political alliance that continues to influence party dynamics.
Dariye’s potential election is seen by many political analysts as a strategic move to consolidate support from the North Central region, which remains a vital electoral bloc for the APC.
Analysts say the trio face a structural challenge: the fact that APC governors currently lead their respective states. Since governors are traditionally recognized as party leaders in their states, this dynamic may complicate the trio’s chances.
Meanwhile, the Kano State Chairman of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, Hashimu Dungurawa, claimed that Ganduje was removed due to corruption allegations leveled against him by some candidates, as well as certain actions considered to be against the President and the party.
“Politically, we are not happy with Ganduje’s resignation, because he was doing what we wanted him to do there. He was working to ensure that APC and Tinubu do not succeed. From what he was doing—whether you like it or not—he was an enemy of Tinubu and APC.
“He started politicking without waiting for INEC, the body saddled with the responsibility of announcing the timetable for political activities. He went ahead to unilaterally adopt and endorse Tinubu, excluding his vice, Kashim Shettima. He has done a lot of damage to APC.
“Ganduje succeeded in technically destroying Tinubu. He didn’t resign; we believe Tinubu understood what he was doing, and that was why they removed him.
“If you are between 50 and 70 years old, you are on medical treatment almost every day. So why did he accept the appointment if he knew he was old? It’s not a matter of sickness. They simply realized he wanted to destroy their party, and that is why he was removed overnight,” the party chairman stated.
In his reaction, another political commentator, Dehinde Rabiu, stated that Ganduje paid the price for kicking against Kwanwaso’s potential move to the party. “The sacking of Ganduje shouldn’t come as a surprise to many of us because the handwriting was already written on the wall. His long-term disagreement with Kwankwaso and allegations of corruption played a key factor in his removal, and that is a sign that the party leader, I mean President Tinubu, is responsible for his removal.
“Again, the need to win the North in the 2027 election also contributed to his sack because Ganduje has few followers compared to Kwankwaso, who has even been tipped to be Tinubu’s potential vice president.”
Nevertheless, many political observers are keenly watching and waiting to see what the final outcome of the APC NEC meeting will be, going by the foregoing drama of Ganjuje’s sack. Beyond this new coalition, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) formed last week political heavyweights across the opposition parties, which observers argued would influence the choice of the next APC National Chairman.
But the ruling party will need a more vibrant and effective leader who will steer its ship and prepare it for the electoral battles ahead. A wrong pick may spell doom to the electoral fortunes of the APC while a right one will add value, prepare and unite the party for the battles ahead.