Abdullahi Ganduje, the national chairman of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), abruptly resigned from his position on Friday, following intense pressure from President Bola Tinubu and a damning State Security Service (SSS) report that indicted him for corruption.
Ganduje, who assumed the role on August 3, 2023, after the forced resignation of former Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Adamu, faced mounting allegations of mismanagement and bribery that ultimately led to his exit.
According to sources cited by DAILY NIGERIAN, which first broke the story, the tipping point for Ganduje’s resignation was his mishandling of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Councils’ primary elections, particularly in Bwari Area Council. Allegations surfaced that results were manipulated in favor of the highest bidders, prompting widespread outrage. Enyigwe Matthew, an observer at the controversial Bwari primaries, posted on social media, “With the kind of APC primary I witnessed at Liberty Hotel in Bwari last Wednesday, I knew that this Ganduje of a man can’t last as the National Chairman of the party. As soon as his list of delegates arrived, he used the police to chase away all aspirants and accredited journalists. His actions can’t be ignored or unattributed to that chaos that resulted in the loss of life.”
Following complaints of corruption and electoral manipulation, President Tinubu reportedly directed the SSS to investigate the bribe-for-ticket allegations. The SSS report, which confirmed the allegations, prompted the president to act decisively. Sources revealed that Tinubu summoned Hope Uzodimma, the chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and governor of Imo State, along with Ibrahim Masari, senior special assistant to the president on Political Affairs, to deliver a clear message to Ganduje: resign honorably. The duo was later joined by Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni to reinforce the presidential directive.
Initially, Ganduje resisted the call to step down. On Thursday night, he made desperate attempts to meet with Tinubu, pleading to remain in office until the APC’s national convention in December 2025. By Friday morning, however, after a meeting with SSS Director General Adeola Ajayi, Ganduje relented. Faced with the prospect of being forcibly removed and facing corruption charges, he tendered his resignation, citing “health challenges” as a pretext.
Previous Attempts to Oust Ganduje
This was not the first time Tinubu had sought to remove Ganduje. In August 2024, the president reportedly planned to replace him due to complaints from the North Central zone about political imbalances, as well as allegations of corruption and selfish handling of party affairs. At the time, Tinubu had intended to nominate Ganduje for an ambassadorial post in a West African country. Senate President Godswill Akpabio was tasked with informing Ganduje of the decision, but Ganduje successfully lobbied APC patriarch Bisi Akande to persuade Tinubu to allow him to stay until the December 2025 convention. Sources noted that Ganduje’s early loyalty to Tinubu had previously shielded him, but his persistent corrupt practices exhausted the president’s patience. One insider remarked, “Ganduje’s corruption and selfish political interests have stretched the president’s tolerance threshold, such that he had to wield the big stick to save the party.”
Falling Out with Key Allies
Ganduje’s troubles were compounded by strained relationships with key allies, including Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume. Uzodimma, who had previously supported Ganduje during earlier attempts to remove him, withdrew his backing due to Ganduje’s “selfish interference” in the South East APC affairs and the Anambra governorship primaries. Similarly, Ganduje alienated Akume during the Benue APC crisis. Despite an agreement not to appeal a November 2024 Benue State High Court judgment that favored Akume’s faction and nullified a seven-member caretaker committee, Ganduje directed the party’s legal department to challenge the ruling, further damaging their relationship.
History of Corruption Allegations
Ganduje’s resignation comes against the backdrop of long-standing corruption allegations. In 2018, DAILY NIGERIAN published exclusive videos showing Ganduje receiving bribes in U.S. dollars from a contractor, leading to an investigation by the Kano State House of Assembly. Currently, Ganduje faces charges alongside his wife, son, and other associates for alleged corruption involving over N50 billion in Kano State.
The sudden resignation of Abdullahi Ganduje marks a significant turning point for the APC as it grapples with internal challenges and prepares for its future leadership transition.
