The All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria’s ruling party, has confirmed the immediate resignation of its National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, citing urgent personal matters.
In a swift response, President Bola Tinubu directed Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori, the Deputy National Chairman (North), to assume the role of Acting National Chairman, pending a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to address the vacancy, according to a statement by National Publicity Secretary, APC, Felix Morka.
Ganduje, who assumed leadership in August 2023 following Senator Abdullahi Adamu’s resignation, tendered his resignation to the National Working Committee (NWC) through National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru.
In his letter, he expressed gratitude to President Tinubu “for the opportunity to serve the Party at the highest level,” highlighting his tenure’s focus on strengthening party unity, promoting democratic ideals, and enhancing electoral competitiveness.
“He leaves his position as National Chairman with great pride in our collective achievements, including successful defections from opposition parties and legal affirmations of our Party leadership’s legitimacy,” Morka stated.
The resignation, announced on Friday, June 27, 2025, has sparked widespread speculation about underlying factors.
While the APC officially attributed Ganduje’s exit to “urgent and important personal matters,” sources suggest health concerns and internal party tensions, particularly from the North-Central zone, may have played
Stakeholders in the region have long demanded the chairmanship return to their zone, citing the party’s zoning arrangements violated by Ganduje’s appointment from the North-West.
Speculation about a permanent successor is rife, with former Nasarawa State Governor Senator Umar Tanko Al-Makura emerging as a leading contender. “Al-Makura is top on that list, as far as I know,” a party insider told Vanguard, reflecting the push to restore the chairmanship to the North-Central zone.
The APC’s statement reaffirmed its commitment to President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, with Morka assuring party faithful, “We remain steadfast and unwavering in our mission to deliver transformative governance for all Nigerians.”
As Dalori steps into the interim role, the APC faces the challenge of maintaining cohesion amid political realignments.
Ganduje’s exit, coupled with his January 2025 appointment as Board Chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, marks a pivotal moment for the party as it prepares for future electoral battles.
The NWC extended gratitude to Ganduje, praying for “his good health, and success in his future endeavours in service of the nation and humanity
