Behind the Curtain of Ganduje’s Resignation: How Powerbrokers, 2027 Politics, and Regional Interests Collided

 

Ganduje Steps Down as APC Chairman Amid Pressure, 2027 Ambitions, and Intrigue Within the Party

Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s sudden resignation from his role as the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has sent political shockwaves across Nigeria’s ruling party. Though the former Kano State governor attributed his decision to health concerns, developments behind the scenes suggest a broader strategic chess game is being played within the corridors of power.

According to high-ranking sources within the party, Ganduje’s departure was anything but voluntary. Security operatives reportedly visited his residence in the early hours of Friday, demanding his resignation letter. This dramatic move has fueled speculation that forces within the presidency and party hierarchy have decided it was time for a leadership reset.

Close associates of Ganduje expressed disbelief at the abrupt turn of events. One insider revealed that even those in his inner circle were caught off guard. Shortly after the security visit, key political actors including a prominent North East governor and a political heavyweight from the North West, both with close ties to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, paid the former chairman a visit. Their mission, sources believe, was to deliver political condolences and possibly offer reassurances.

Before the drama unfolded, Ganduje had performed what would become his last official duty as APC chairman. He led the party’s National Working Committee on a condolence visit to Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, expressing sympathy over deadly floods and banditry affecting parts of the state. Within hours of that public appearance, his position was no longer his.

Several internal factors appear to have converged, prompting Ganduje’s removal. Chief among them is the long-standing political rivalry between him and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the influential leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and a major player in northern politics. Reports suggest that President Tinubu has made multiple overtures to bring Kwankwaso into the APC fold. However, Kwankwaso allegedly laid down a clear condition for his return: Ganduje must go.

The friction between the two Kano politicians is well documented, and any possibility of party harmony in the state appeared out of reach with Ganduje at the helm. Analysts believe that Tinubu, seeking to build a formidable coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections, was under pressure to sacrifice Ganduje to secure Kwankwaso’s loyalty and political capital.

This development comes amid whispers that the opposition coalition, led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, had begun courting Kwankwaso. If true, the threat of losing such a key northern figure to the opposition may have forced the president’s hand.

Beyond individual rivalries, regional dynamics also played a critical role in Ganduje’s forced exit. Party stakeholders from the North Central zone had repeatedly expressed discontent over his appointment. They argued that since Ganduje’s predecessor, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, also from the North, had been removed after the 2023 elections, the chairmanship should revert to their region.

Adamu, a former Nasarawa State governor, was believed to have backed Senate President Ahmad Lawan over Tinubu during the APC presidential primaries. Following the elections, he resigned and Ganduje, a staunch Tinubu loyalist, was appointed. That move, however, did little to ease tensions within the party, especially among aggrieved North Central leaders who saw it as a political slight.

As discussions on Ganduje’s replacement gather momentum, three names have emerged as frontrunners from the North Central zone. These include Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, former governor of Nasarawa and a founding APC member; Senator George Akume, the current Secretary to the Government of the Federation and an old political ally of President Tinubu; and Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, representing Niger East and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

Each of these candidates comes with credentials and loyalty to the president, but their ambitions may run into structural roadblocks. Since APC governors are considered the de facto leaders in their states, the fact that all three hail from states currently governed by APC may lead to friction and power imbalance at the state level.

As Ganduje exits the stage, attention has now turned to Hon. Abubakar Kyari Dalori, the Deputy National Chairman (North), who is expected to take over in an acting capacity. According to the party’s constitution, Dalori would hold the reins until the national convention scheduled for November, unless a consensus candidate emerges and is ratified by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

Party officials remain tight-lipped about the resignation, with some, including National Director of Publicity Bala Ibrahim, stating they have yet to receive formal confirmation. However, preparations are already underway for an emergency NEC meeting that would address the leadership vacuum and initiate the process for installing an interim or permanent successor.

This latest episode adds to a growing list of national chairmen who have exited the position under contentious circumstances. Since the APC’s formation in 2013, the party has seen six national chairmen, with many stepping down amidst internal rifts, power struggles, or presidential pressure.

Chief Bisi Akande served as interim chairman at inception, succeeded by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun whose tenure ended in 2018 amid murmurs of underperformance. Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s reign was perhaps the most turbulent, marred by court battles and factional wars, which led to the dissolution of his leadership team in 2020. Mai Mala Buni then took over in a caretaker capacity, tasked with healing the party and conducting a convention. His prolonged tenure drew criticism and unrest within the party ranks until Adamu was selected.

Each transition has reflected the party’s persistent struggle with internal democracy, consensus-building, and leadership stability. Ganduje’s resignation fits this pattern, revealing deep fractures and strategic maneuvering within the ruling party.

What comes next may shape the APC’s trajectory toward 2027. Whether the party finds a unifying figure or succumbs to internal division will depend on how the upcoming leadership decisions are handled. One thing remains clear: the game of political survival and realignment in Nigeria’s most dominant party is far from over.