Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has stepped down from his position as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The former Kano State Governor, who assumed the APC chairmanship in August 2023, tendered his resignation with immediate effect, citing health challenges and the need to prioritize his personal well-being. However, political observers suggest that Ganduje’s exit may have been hastened by intensifying internal dissent and a cloud of controversy surrounding his leadership.
Ganduje’s time in office was dogged by persistent intra-party disputes, legal battles, and allegations of financial impropriety. Though his resignation letter points to health issues as the sole reason for his departure, several party insiders believe rising opposition within the party hierarchy played a significant role.
Sources close to the APC leadership allege that some party stakeholders had grown increasingly frustrated with what they described as “exorbitant financial demands” associated with Ganduje’s office. Of particular concern were complaints from aspirants contesting for Abuja’s area council positions, who claimed they were asked to pay steep fees to obtain party nomination forms.
Ganduje’s position had also been legally contested on multiple fronts. In April 2024, a Kano State High Court issued an interim order restraining him from identifying as an APC member, following a lawsuit brought by party officials in his home state. Although the Federal High Court in Abuja later dismissed a separate suit filed by the APC North Central Forum seeking his removal, the controversies surrounding his leadership persisted.
With the APC yet to issue an official statement on the resignation, uncertainty looms over the immediate future of the party’s leadership. Analysts warn that Ganduje’s sudden departure, amid unresolved internal grievances, could trigger a fresh wave of power tussles within the APC ahead of key national and state elections.
Ganduje, a two-term governor of Kano State, was appointed chairman following the ouster of Senator Abdullahi Adamu in mid-2023.
