Over a month after Abdullahi Ganduje stepped down as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), questions continue to surround the circumstances of his departure, with conflicting accounts emerging from party insiders and political observers. Ganduje, a former governor of Kano State, resigned from his position on June 27, 2025, officially citing health concerns.
However, subsequent events and political developments have fueled speculation that his resignation was the result of calculated political maneuvering rather than personal health challenges.
Just days after leaving the APC leadership, Ganduje was inaugurated as Chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), a role he had been appointed to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in January 2025. His public engagements since then, including the FAAN board inauguration and a visit to the family of former President Muhammadu Buhari in London, have led many to question the validity of the health-related explanation for his resignation.
Party insiders had initially speculated that Ganduje would receive a prominent political appointment soon after stepping down, with some rumours suggesting he might replace George Akume as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). That change never materialised, and political analysts believe that his resignation was driven by a broader strategic plan within the APC.
According to sources who spoke with Daily Trust, one of the key reasons for Ganduje’s exit was to facilitate negotiations with leaders of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), particularly his long-time political rival, former Kano governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and the current Kano governor, Abba Yusuf. The strategy reportedly aimed to bring Kwankwaso and his political base into the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections, leveraging his strong grassroots influence in Kano State.
Kwankwaso’s relationship with President Tinubu dates back to their tenures as governors between 1999 and 2003, a connection that some party leaders hoped could be used to build political alliances. However, this plan quickly encountered resistance from APC stakeholders in Kano, many of whom have deep-seated political rivalries with Kwankwaso’s camp. One party source explained that integrating Kwankwaso’s supporters into the APC risked alienating Ganduje loyalists and others who could not work alongside their long-time adversaries.
This internal opposition stalled the APC’s proposed realignment in Kano and left the party unable to advance the plan or revert to its previous structure. The situation was further complicated by the fact that the APC had already appointed a new national chairman from the North Central region, making Ganduje’s return to the position practically impossible.
While the official narrative from Ganduje’s allies is that his resignation was voluntary, political observers believe it was influenced by multiple pressures. According to reports, three main factors contributed to his exit. The first was the strategic need to create room for Kwankwaso’s potential defection to the APC. The second involved alleged disagreements between Ganduje and elements within the presidency, which may have strained his position as party chairman. The third was zoning pressure from the North Central region, which had been lobbying for the chairmanship since Abdullahi Adamu’s resignation in 2023.
Although Ganduje’s resignation has been presented as a straightforward matter of personal health, the combination of political strategy, internal disputes, and regional lobbying suggests a far more complex backdrop. For now, the APC remains caught between the challenges of managing its internal factions and preparing for the next electoral cycle, while Ganduje continues to occupy a federal appointment far removed from the party leadership role he left behind.
