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Over a month after former Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, “resigned” as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), controversy still surrounds the circumstances of his exit, with speculation rife about his alleged fallout with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other party power brokers.
Naija News reports that Ganduje, who stepped down on June 27 citing ill health, has since taken up the role of Chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), an appointment made by President Tinubu in January 2025 but only inaugurated in July, days after he departed from the APC leadership.
Following his resignation, many within the party expected Ganduje to be handed another high-profile political office, with rumours suggesting he might swap positions with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume. However, the plan never materialised.
Sources close to Ganduje who spoke with Daily Trust maintain he left the position voluntarily, but others insist he was eased out to clear the way for negotiations with New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) leaders, notably his political rival, former Kano governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and incumbent governor Abba Yusuf, to join the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
Party insiders told Daily Trust that the strategy was hinged on Kwankwaso’s cult-like political influence in Kano and his long-standing relationship with Tinubu, dating back to their time as governors between 1999 and 2003.
However, the plan reportedly hit a brick wall, as APC stakeholders in Kano resisted the idea of working with NNPP leaders due to deep-seated political animosities.
“Many of them can’t possibly work together… Once you give opportunity to Kwankwaso and his group to migrate to the APC, the likes of Ganduje and others would either remain placid or move out of the party because they can’t work together,” a source said.
The stalemate has left the APC unable to push forward with its Kano realignment strategy or reverse course, especially after appointing a new national chairman from the North Central.
While Ganduje cited ill health as the reason for his resignation, his public appearances shortly after — including the FAAN board inauguration and a visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari’s family in London — have raised questions.
Observers argue that his mobility and engagements undermine the narrative that health concerns forced him out, fuelling speculation that political calculations played a larger role.
Three Alleged Reasons For Exit
Political sources point to three main factors behind Ganduje’s resignation:
Strategic Exit for Kwankwaso’s Entry – He was reportedly asked to step aside, with a promise of a bigger role, to pave the way for Kwankwaso’s defection to the APC.
Fallout with the Presidency – Alleged disagreements with the presidency may have prompted his removal.
Zoning Pressure from North Central – His exit was seen as a move to placate the North Central region, which had agitated for the chairmanship since Abdullahi Adamu’s departure.
The post Sources Reveals Three Reasons Why Ganduje Was Forced Out As APC National Chairman appeared first on Naija News.
