Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has stepped down as the National Chairman of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), with party insiders confirming the decision was due to worsening health concerns.
A former governor of Kano State, Ganduje submitted his resignation to the APC National Working Committee (NWC) on Thursday night. The party’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, has now taken over his responsibilities in acting capacity.
A senior APC official, who declined to be named, told reporters: “The chairman has been battling health challenges for some time, and it reached a point where he could no longer continue.”
Though the party has not officially disclosed the nature of his illness, those familiar with the development say the decision was personal and tied to his struggle to keep up with the rigours of the position.
Ganduje’s resignation has shaken the party, especially as it comes at a time when internal wranglings and unresolved issues still linger.
Appointed in August 2023 after a disputed election cycle, his task was to stabilize the party and rally its members. But his tenure was anything but smooth.
“He came in with a lot of expectations, but internal divisions, coupled with accusations of mismanagement, made the job increasingly difficult,” said another party source.
The handover to Senator Basiru is seen as a stopgap, with the APC expected to hold an emergency meeting next week to discuss long-term plans for the leadership. Names such as Kayode Fayemi, former Ekiti State governor, and Tanko Al-Makura, former Nasarawa State governor, are already being mentioned as possible successors.
Ganduje’s exit, while abrupt, was not entirely unforeseen. What remains unclear is how the APC plans to regain stability and coherence as it approaches future elections.
