The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has officially resigned from his position, bringing an unexpected end to his tenure as the leader of Nigeria’s ruling party.
Ganduje, a former Governor of Kano State, tendered his resignation on Thursday, citing health concerns as the major reason for his decision to step down. His resignation comes amid rising internal pressure from certain party stakeholders who had been pushing for leadership restructuring within the APC.
Since assuming the role of National Chairman in 2023, Ganduje’s leadership had faced growing opposition from some party factions, especially from the North-Central region. Several groups had called for his resignation, insisting that the chairmanship position should be zoned elsewhere to ensure fairness and inclusiveness within the party.
While Ganduje has maintained that his decision was personal and motivated by the need to focus on his health, political analysts believe that the persistent agitation from within the party and recent controversies surrounding his leadership may have also influenced his move.
As of now, the APC National Working Committee (NWC) is yet to issue an official statement confirming the resignation, though credible sources indicate that the letter has been received and acknowledged. It is expected that the party will soon announce an acting chairman pending the appointment of a substantive replacement.
Ganduje’s resignation marks a significant moment for the APC, particularly as the party begins early preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections. The coming days will be crucial as attention shifts to who will take over the reins of leadership and how the party intends to manage the transition without deepening existing internal rifts.
