The resignation of Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje from his position as the National Chairman of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Friday, and the rife speculations that Vice President Kashim Shettima might be dropped from the APC’s joint presidential ticket, have both signaled a wave of 2027 political tide in the country, set to hit the incumbent APC.
Ganduje, a two-time Governor of Kano State, Northwest Nigeria, shocked many on Friday as he quit the APC chairmanship role, citing health reasons. He reportedly submitted his resignation letter to the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, even though the APC was yet to issue a statement confirming Ganduje’s resignation as of the time of this reporting.
However, political juggernauts are overlooking the reason reported to have been given by Ganduje to link this latest development to an ongoing attempt by President Bola Tinubu to retool his political machine ahead of the 2027 politicking.
Sources had reportedly hinted that Ganduje, who became APC Chairman in August 2023, resigned due to the current political romance between his ex-boss-turned-arch political rival in Kano, Rabiu Kwankwaso and President Tinubu.
Kwankwaso, is said to be on his way to the APC as it appears Tinubu is targeting new allies in that region of the country where he struggled to win bulk votes in the 2023 elections.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that Kwankwaso is a former Governor of Kano, with almost a cult-like political following in the state, where his Kwankwasiyya movement is well entrenched, sparingly extending to parts of Northwest. He ran for President alongside Tinubu in the last presidential election, but his New Nigeria People’s Party came a distant fourth.
Speaking with journalists on Friday, Buba Galadima, a close associate of Kwankwaso said both the embattled Vice President Shettima and Ganduje might be among the sacrificial lambs in the APC for Tinubu to realize his dream of a two-termed presidency. But he denied reports of Kwankwaso’s ‘defection plan’.
Galadima, while reacting to Ganduje’s resignation, was quoted by the Punch as saying, “I am not aware of the (Kwankwaso) defection plan. However, I know Kwankwaso and Ganduje have personal issues.
“I am equally aware that there was a meeting of APC stakeholders and the presidency three days ago where they agreed that Ganduje and Shettima should be sacrificed to bring a new set of people into government and the party.” Galadima disclosed.
It is believed that among other reasons, the alleged planned defection of Kwankwaso to the APC might have been the sole factor that eventually tilted Ganduje’s decision to call it quits on the APC’s National Chairmanship position, ignoring all entreaties. “We couldn’t stop him. I think there is something personal between him and Kwankwaso, who is ready to join the APC after some discussions with the President,” one source reportedly said.
Ganduje, said to have been penciled on a list of non-career ambassadorial nominees expected to be announced soon by the presidency, was Kano governor from May 2015 to May 2023. On top of his APC Chairmanship, Tinubu had also in January 2025, appointed him as the Board Chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Following Ganduje’s resignation, the Deputy National Chairman, North, of the APC, Bukar Dalori, has emerged as the acting National Chairman of the party pending when a national convention would be held to elect a new National Chairman as 2027 politicking is beginning to unfold.
