APC Throne Shakes: Ganduje Out, Dalori Rises

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has seen a significant shift in its leadership as Abdullahi Ganduje, former governor of Kano State, officially stepped down on Friday, June 27, 2025, as the National Chairman of the party.

His resignation, online media reports say, marks the end of a turbulent tenure that lasted less than a year.

Ali Bukar Dalori, the Deputy National Chairman (North), has been appointed to take over the reins in an acting capacity.

The announcement was confirmed by the party’s spokesman, Felix Morka, in a statement that outlined both the reason for Ganduje’s resignation and the next steps for the APC.

“His resignation, which is effective immediately, was offered to enable him attend to urgent and important personal matters,” Morka stated.

In his resignation letter addressed to the National Working Committee (NWC) through the party’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, Ganduje expressed his appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the opportunity to serve.

“In his letter of resignation addressed to the National Working Committee (NWC) through the National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, Ganduje expressed gratitude to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Tinubu, for the opportunity to serve the party at the highest level,” Morka added.

Ganduje’s exit from the party’s top office comes amid persistent internal dissent.

Since his appointment in August 2023, following the resignation of Abdullahi Adamu, who hails from the North Central zone, there have been rumblings within the party, particularly regarding the issue of zoning.

Critics, especially from the South and Middle Belt, viewed Ganduje’s emergence as a breach of the APC’s informal power-sharing agreement.

They favoured the informal agreement which supposedly seeks to ensure equitable distribution of key positions among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

Ganduje, who is from the North-West zone, was seen by many as a controversial replacement for Adamu.

It created friction within the party and raising questions about internal unity.

His leadership brought experience from his time as governor of Kano State (2015–2023).

However, it also carried the weight of unresolved grievances tied to zoning and inclusivity.

Despite the growing resistance within the party, Ganduje remained an active player in national politics.

In January 2025, President Tinubu appointed him as the Chairman of the Board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), a powerful federal agency overseeing aviation infrastructure and airport management.

There were also reports that Ganduje had been penciled in for a diplomatic posting, potentially as a non-career ambassadorial nominee.

This reportedly signals that his influence within the political sphere remained intact.

However, this latest development may signal a strategic shift.

According to Morka, President Tinubu has directed Dalori to take over the leadership role in an acting capacity.

“Morka said Tinubu directed Dalori to assume the position of Acting National Chairman, pending the meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party to be summoned immediately to fill the vacancy created by the resignation.”

Dalori, a long-time party stalwart and Deputy National Chairman (North), is now expected to steer the APC through this transition period.

This will run until a formal decision is made by the party’s National Executive Committee.

His leadership comes at a critical time, as the APC works to manage internal tensions, reorganize its structure, and prepare for future electoral contests.

Ganduje’s resignation adds yet another chapter to the story of political reshuffling and realignment within Nigeria’s ruling party.

For Nigerians, especially those between the ages of 20 and 65 who have lived through many cycles of leadership changes, this move reflects both the fluidity and fragility of political alliances in the country.

While Ganduje may have stepped down from the top party position, his political journey is far from over.

With his new federal appointment and potential ambassadorial role on the horizon, the former governor remains firmly within the corridors of power.

Whether his exit brings stability to the APC or opens the door to further contestation will largely depend on how the party navigates the coming weeks.

What is certain is that in Nigerian politics, the game is never truly over—it simply changes players.

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