Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has stepped down as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), bringing an abrupt end to a tenure marked by legal battles and internal party strife.
Ganduje, a former Governor of Kano State (2015–2023), tendered his resignation with immediate effect, citing health concerns as the primary reason for his decision. His resignation letter, as obtained by Premium Times, stated the need to prioritise his personal well-being.
Elected APC Chairman in August 2023 during a turbulent period within the ruling party, Ganduje’s leadership has faced persistent challenges — both political and judicial. Despite officially attributing his resignation to health reasons, multiple sources within the APC have linked his exit to mounting political tension and pressure from party factions.
During his time in office, Ganduje came under intense scrutiny over allegations of financial impropriety. Some party members had accused his office of imposing “excessive financial demands,” particularly during the party’s internal ticketing processes. Aspiring candidates for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections reportedly expressed discontent over what they described as “hefty fees” required to secure the APC’s nomination.
In April 2024, the political tide turned sharply against Ganduje when a Kano State High Court issued an ex parte order barring him from parading himself as a party member. The ruling came in response to a suit filed by aggrieved APC executives in Kano. Although a separate legal challenge from the APC North Central Forum seeking his removal was dismissed by a Federal High Court in Abuja, the pressure on Ganduje continued to mount.
Further compounding his woes, SaharaReporters in 2024 published a damning exposé by US-based Kano-born filmmaker and journalist, Dr. Bello Galadanci, popularly known as “Dan Bello.” In the viral video, Galadanci alleged large-scale financial mismanagement within the APC’s Kano structure, implicating Ganduje and his wife, Hafsatu Abdullahi Umar.
Galadanci claimed that 44 bank accounts — equal to the number of local government areas in Kano — were linked to the former First Lady via a single Bank Verification Number (BVN). He displayed campaign posters and financial documents allegedly tying her to illicit transfers from the state treasury to personal and family-owned businesses, including Safari Textile.
“From state coffers to personal accounts,” Galadanci said, adding that transaction histories from just one of the accounts spanned over 280 pages, suggesting deep financial entanglements.
As of press time, the APC leadership has yet to issue an official statement on Ganduje’s resignation. However, the development signals a major shake-up in the ruling party’s top leadership and raises fresh questions about the future direction of the APC heading into the next election cycle.
