Fresh details have emerged regarding the sudden resignation of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, amid reports of a political realignment involving President Bola Tinubu and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Ganduje, a former governor of Kano State, formally stepped down on Friday, with the party’s Deputy National Chairman (North), Ali Bukar Dalori from Borno State, named as the acting national chairman pending the election of a substantive replacement.
In an official statement, APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka confirmed the resignation, stating that Ganduje had submitted a letter addressed to the National Working Committee (NWC) through the National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru. In the letter, Ganduje expressed his gratitude to President Tinubu for the opportunity to lead the party.
However, POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Ganduje’s resignation may be tied to an unfolding political strategy aimed at bringing his longtime rival, Kwankwaso, into the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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Party insiders said that tensions had mounted by Friday afternoon when Ganduje learned of the Tinubu-Kwankwaso alliance. By 3 p.m., he had reportedly threatened to quit, and party leaders scrambled to dissuade him. Despite the intervention of top officials, including the party’s national secretary, Ganduje’s resignation became official shortly after 4:15 p.m.
“We are currently pleading with him (Ganduje) not to resign. He is upset that Kwankwaso is coming to the APC. I think the two of them are sworn enemies,” a party source told reporters.
Another insider confirmed the resignation, saying, “He has eventually resigned. We couldn’t stop him. I think there is something personal between him and Kwankwaso, who is ready to join the APC after some discussions with the president.”
A staff member at the APC secretariat downplayed the tension but confirmed discussions were ongoing: “There is no crisis, just that the chairman has resigned and people gathered at the secretariat to discuss it.”
Ganduje and Kwankwaso’s rivalry spans over a decade. Once allies under the PDP, Ganduje served as Kwankwaso’s deputy during his second tenure as Kano governor (2011–2015). Their political alliance collapsed after Ganduje assumed office as governor in 2015 and consolidated power under the APC.
One of the most contentious episodes in their feud was the 2020 dethronement of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, a known Kwankwaso loyalist. In a dramatic twist, Sanusi was reinstated as Emir in May 2024 by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the Kwankwaso-led New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
READ ALSO: Why Ganduje Resigned As Our Party National Chairman – APC
Although Ganduje publicly cited health concerns as the reason for his exit, political observers believe his resignation is a direct response to President Tinubu’s bid to bring Kwankwaso into the APC fold—a move widely interpreted as part of Tinubu’s larger strategy to reposition the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
When contacted, Buba Galadima, a close ally of Kwankwaso, denied knowledge of any defection plans. However, he acknowledged that significant political maneuvering was underway.
“I am not aware of the defection plan. However, I know Kwankwaso and Ganduje have personal issues. I am equally aware that there was a meeting of APC stakeholders and the presidency three days ago where they agreed that Ganduje and Shettima should be sacrificed to bring a new set of people into government and the party,” Galadima disclosed.
As the APC recalibrates its internal structure, the opposition is also stepping up efforts to form a united front ahead of the 2027 elections, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Labour Party’s Peter Obi reportedly leading the charge for a broader coalition.
President Tinubu, who took office in 2023, appears determined to expand his political base, even if it means making tough calls within his party—including sacrificing long-time allies.