Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has officially stepped down as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), tendering his resignation to the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) on Friday, June 27, 2025. Sources close to the former Kano State governor say his decision was driven by mounting health concerns and the need to prioritise his personal well‑being
Ganduje, who assumed the APC chairmanship on August 3, 2023, after the resignation of his predecessor Senator Abdullahi Adamu, leaves at a time of heightened speculation over internal party tensions. Rumours swirling around his office ahead of today’s announcement, including reports that his personal effects were removed from the secretariat, suggested pressure had been building .
According to party insiders, the National Vice Chairman is expected to be appointed acting chairman, pending a fresh APC convention scheduled for December 2025
No official statement has been issued by the APC as this report is filed, though sources confirm consultations within the leadership are underway to decide on an interim successor.
Ganduje’s two‑year tenure was marked by both achievements and controversies. During his stint, he navigated significant factional strife, including a controversial suspension by his local ward executives in Kano and the resurfacing of past bribery allegations led by the Kano State government, though those internal challenges were later quashed by various legal and party interventions
Critics also accused him of neglecting delicate regional zoning agreements and mishandling certain stakeholder meetings, notably causing friction among northern party elders
During his time in office, Ganduje also faced intense opposition from various party organs, particularly from North Central APC stakeholders who challenged his appointment as being contrary to the party’s zoning convention
Despite a vote of confidence from 37 state APC chairmen earlier, that regional contention remained a spotlight of division and debate
A veteran politician born on December 25, 1949, Ganduje served as Governor of Kano State from 2015 to 2023. His political ascent was propelled by endorsements from President Bola Tinubu and key party governors during a National Executive Committee meeting in August 2023
With his departure today, all eyes are now on the APC’s NWC and NEC to see who will step into the acting chairmanship ahead of the December convention. For KIIN360, this development marks a turning point in the party’s internal dynamics, one that will likely reshape APC leadership as it approaches the 2027 electoral cycle
