Fresh details have emerged on how Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje was compelled to resign as National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), despite citing health reasons in his resignation letter.
Ganduje, the former governor of Kano State, reportedly tendered his resignation under intense pressure amid political calculations linked to the 2027 presidential race.
Security pressure at midnight
Credible sources told Weekend Trust that the final push for Ganduje’s exit came when the head of one of Nigeria’s security agencies visited his residence at about 2 a.m. on Friday to obtain his resignation letter.
“We are all shocked. We didn’t see it coming,” said a source close to Ganduje, who added that a North-East governor and a prominent North-West politician close to the president later visited Ganduje to console him.
Before stepping down, his last official duty was leading APC National Working Committee members on a condolence visit to Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago over recent flood and bandit attacks.
2027 calculations: Kwankwaso factor
One key factor cited in Ganduje’s removal was the ongoing effort to woo Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso back to the APC.
A source said: “You know Kwankwaso gave the president one condition for rejoining the APC: Ganduje’s removal as national chairman. With Ganduje in charge, Kwankwaso couldn’t assume party leadership in Kano.”
The source added: “We learnt that the president was informed that Kwankwaso had been approached by the Atiku-led coalition and was already considering the offer. That may have triggered Ganduje’s removal.”
Another insider noted that Ganduje’s exit could smoothen the path for APC’s upcoming congress and for accommodating political heavyweights who have demanded viable structures before defecting.
North Central’s longstanding agitation
Beyond Kwankwaso’s return, Ganduje’s tenure faced sustained opposition from North Central stakeholders who insisted the chairmanship seat should return to their zone after Abdullahi Adamu’s resignation.
Adamu, from Nasarawa State, was believed to have backed Ahmad Lawan over Tinubu during the 2022 APC primaries and was pressured to step down after Tinubu’s victory.
Following National Chairman’s exit, attention has turned to North Central figures such as Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, Senator George Akume, and Senator Mohammed Sani Musa as possible replacements. However, analysts note that their ambitions may be complicated by the presence of APC governors in their respective states, who are traditionally seen as party leaders at the state level.
A pattern of turbulent exits
Ganduje’s resignation marks yet another controversial exit of an APC national chairman, adding to the party’s history of leadership instability.
Since its formation in 2013, the APC has had six national chairmen: Bisi Akande (interim), John Odigie-Oyegun, Adams Oshiomhole, Mai Mala Buni (caretaker), Abdullahi Adamu, and Ganduje—all of whom left under varying degrees of controversy.
Oshiomhole’s tenure was ended by a NEC dissolution over alleged abuse of office. Adamu resigned under pressure for his perceived disloyalty during the primaries. Buni, despite attracting defectors, was criticised for delaying the party convention.
What’s next?
With this resignation, APC leaders are expected to swiftly fill the vacuum as the party prepares for its December convention, amid growing calls for internal reforms and unity ahead of the 2027 elections.
