Ganduje Faces Pressure to Resign as APC National Chairman Amid Party Tensions

 Abdullahi Ganduje, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is reportedly set to resign following intense internal pressure and allegations of mismanagement. 

The former Kano State governor faced a chaotic stakeholders’ meeting in Gombe on June 22, where party members accused him of failing to unify the APC ahead of the 2027 elections, leading to calls for his exit.

Ganduje’s tenure has been marred by controversies, including a 2024 video showing him harassed by irate APC members over his refusal to endorse Vice President Kashim Shettima as a northern leader. The party’s North-East bloc, controlling 30% of APC votes, demands new leadership to counter opposition coalitions led by Atiku Abubakar and Nasir El-Rufai. Ganduje’s allies, however, hint he may welcome back rival Rabiu Kwankwaso to strengthen the APC, a move opposed by 60% of party stakeholders.

The resignation rumors follow a 2024 Kano emirate crisis, where Ganduje’s influence waned after Emir Sanusi’s reinstatement. With APC controlling 20 of Nigeria’s 36 states, Ganduje’s exit could trigger a leadership contest, with Senate President Godswill Akpabio favored to replace him. The party plans an emergency congress in Q3 2025 to address the crisis, aiming to secure 70% of votes in 2027.