Barely a week after stepping down as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has been sworn in as the Chairman of the Board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The swearing-in took place on Wednesday in Abuja during the official inauguration of the newly constituted FAAN Board by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
Ganduje, a former governor of Kano State, was appointed to the position by President Bola Tinubu in January 2025. The board also includes members from the Ministries of Aviation, Tourism, Defence, and the FAAN Managing Director/CEO.
Ganduje resigned from his role as APC National Chairman last week, citing health reasons. In his resignation letter addressed to the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) through the National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, he said he needed time to attend to his well-being. He also thanked President Tinubu for the opportunity to lead the ruling party.
Felix Morka, the APC National Publicity Secretary, confirmed that Ganduje’s resignation took immediate effect. Ali Bukar Dalori, the party’s Deputy National Chairman (North), has since stepped in as Acting Chairman, following Tinubu’s reported directive, pending a formal decision at the next emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
Ganduje became APC National Chairman in August 2023 during a tense period within the party. His emergence sparked criticism from some party members, who argued that it violated the APC’s zoning arrangement, which had reserved the position for the North Central region. He had succeeded Abdullahi Adamu, who resigned amid internal party disputes.
Now heading the FAAN Board, Ganduje steps into a new federal role, even as debates continue around the timing and motivation behind his recent political exit.
