In a move that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s ruling party, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has resigned as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), marking a sudden end to his embattled tenure at the helm of the party’s national leadership.
Ganduje, who served as Governor of Kano State from 2015 to 2023, reportedly tendered his resignation with immediate effect on Friday, though no official statement has been issued by the APC’s national secretariat as at press time.
Multiple sources within the party confirmed the development, though many declined to go on record.
One senior official at the party’s headquarters in Abuja said,
“Between me and you, it is true, but I can’t confirm officially — and please don’t quote me.”
Though the resignation is being presented as voluntary, political observers and party insiders hint at intense internal pressure and mounting discontent within the APC as the real force behind Ganduje’s exit.
Speculations have swirled for months over friction between the national chairman and key party stakeholders, especially from the North, where loyalty to Ganduje has reportedly waned.
“Ganduje’s leadership had become increasingly untenable,” said a political analyst familiar with the inner workings of the APC. “His presence was beginning to distract the party ahead of its December convention.”
Some within the party had also questioned his continued engagement in public functions despite citing health concerns in internal communications — an inconsistency that reportedly irritated some power blocs.
Ironically, hours before the news broke, Ganduje led a delegation of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) to pay a condolence visit to Governor Umaru Bago of Niger State over the devastating Mokwa flood that claimed more than 200 lives.
He was also in attendance, alongside the APC National Secretary, Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, at the second quarterly consultative meeting between INEC and party leaders on Thursday.
These recent outings had led many to dismiss earlier rumors of his impending resignation. But today’s confirmation shifts the narrative dramatically, suggesting a possible behind-the-scenes deal to ease him out quietly.
Sources suggest that one of the party’s national vice chairmen will take over in an acting capacity pending the party’s national convention scheduled for December 2025.
The APC is yet to release an official statement detailing the succession plan or the reason for Ganduje’s sudden departure.
Ganduje’s resignation comes at a delicate time for the APC, which faces increasing scrutiny over insecurity, economic hardship, and internal wrangling.
Party strategists are now tasked with not just managing succession, but also ensuring that the December convention doesn’t become a battlefield for emerging factions within the party.
Ganduje’s tenure as national chairman was marked by efforts to consolidate the APC’s hold at the federal level following the 2023 elections. However, he also faced criticism for his controversial past, especially from opposition parties and some civil society groups that questioned his suitability for such a high office.
Now, with his quiet exit, the APC must grapple with the fallout and the optics of a party leader stepping aside under a cloud of silence and speculation.
Whether this marks a turning point or a temporary shuffle within the ruling party remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the race to reshape the APC leadership ahead of 2027 has begun in earnest.