In view of the anticipated political realignment that will prelude the Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, the Chairman of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje surprisingly announced his decision to resign as the chairman of the ruling party.
Prior to his resignation, Ganduje had maintained a clean and commendable relationship with president Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Hence, his resignation though in connection with the 2027 presidential election permutations and strategic realignment, was unexpected especially as there were no reported rift between him and the president nor the National Working Committee of the party.
His surprising resignation has been confirmed by the APC leadership while a new chairman has been enthroned in acting capacity pending when the party will hold its national convention to choose its next national chairman.
In his resignation letter, Ganduje, a former governor of Kano state in the Northwest of the Nigeria’s geographical space, attributed his resignation to his health and age-related illnesses; however, sources privy to the development insinuate that he was compelled to resign and did not do so at his will or due to the official reasons he cited.
According to the insinuations, three major political factors caused Ganduje’s resignation. These assumed factors include his relationship with Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the leader of the Kwankwasoya movement. According to speculations, president Bola Ahmed in the face of his increasing unpopularity in the country, especially in the northern region of the country as well as the renewed conspiracy by some northern political elite against him; elites who are determined to ensure president Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s defeat in 2027 through a coalition. Hence, the president in his political calculation, considers Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and his herd followers especially in Kano state as being vital and veritable to his reelection in 2027. Reports claim the president considers dropping vice president Kashim Shettima for Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Hence, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso who currently controls the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and the leadership of the Kano state government loyal to him and under his grip and control, had informed the president that he will only join his party and accept being his running mate if his erstwhile political ally, Ganduje steps down as the national chairman of the APC. As a result, Ganduje’s resignation is linked to Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s slated defection to the APC.
Another factor pointed out as the reason for Ganduje’s resignation is the zoning arrangement of the party’s national leadership. Ganduje in 2023 took over from former governor of Nasarawa state, Abdullahi Adamu from the north central region of the federation. North central APC stakeholders had expected Adamu’s successor to emerge from the region especially as he did not complete his tenure before his resignation. While Ganduje’s emergence as the APC chairman was a brainchild of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he faced pressure from the members of APC from the North central region. Therefore, the president is said to be planning to right his wrong by ensuring that the next national chairman of the APC emerges from the North central region before the 2027 elections.
Lastly, Ganduje’s resignation is tied to his initial contract with president Bola Ahmed Tinubu before his emergence. Sources claim that Ganduje had agreed to resign two years after superintending the national affairs of the party; an agreement president Bola Ahmed Tinubu reportedly forced him into.
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