The resignation of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may be tied to the reported defection plans of his longtime political rival, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, rather than the health reasons initially cited. This is according to insider accounts obtained on Friday.
Ganduje, a former governor of Kano State, officially submitted his resignation letter to the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
While his camp cited ill health as the reason for his exit, fresh details suggest deeper political maneuvering behind the move.
Sources familiar with the situation revealed that Ganduje’s decision to step aside was prompted by the APC’s strategic effort to welcome Kwankwaso, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) leader, into its fold ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Except he changes his mind, arrangements for Kwankwaso to join APC have been made,” one source claimed.
Ganduje and Kwankwaso, both former governors of Kano and political adversaries for years, have remained at odds since their fallout over the state’s political leadership.
The source revealed that Ganduje had made it clear he would not remain in the party if Kwankwaso was admitted, compelling the former APC chairman to resign to avoid internal conflict.
The potential defection of Kwankwaso has sparked further speculation about a possible reshuffling of APC’s presidential ticket in 2027.
Some party stakeholders are reportedly pushing for Kwankwaso to replace Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate, citing his wider electoral appeal in the North.
However, the presidency has yet to comment officially on the matter.
