Following his departure in June 2025 as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has largely stayed out of the media spotlight.
However, he recently spoke with journalists in Abuja, including a correspondent of The Nation, reflecting on his time leading the ruling party and addressing developments in Kano politics. He also touched on the possibility of mending fences with Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a prominent political figure in the state.
According to The Nation, speaking on the political landscape in Kano State, Ganduje expressed satisfaction that what he previously described as a political goal — returning the state to the APC’s fold — had materialised. He said he feels pleased and encouraged by recent political realignments, noting that new entrants into the party would be gradually absorbed and fully integrated to promote unity and cohesion.
Reflecting on past elections, he recalled that during his tenure as governor, the state delivered one of the strongest showings for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the party’s presidential primaries. According to him, Kano produced the highest number of delegates, all of whom voted for Tinubu. He also highlighted that, in the subsequent general election, the APC secured victory over the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by a margin exceeding 500,000 votes — a result he described as one of the widest in the country.
Ganduje further stated that party stakeholders are collaborating with the current state administration to consolidate achievements in critical sectors such as infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, security, and environmental management. He emphasized the need to sustain and expand on these gains.
Responding to concerns about political opposition, particularly remarks attributed to Kwankwaso suggesting a potential political comeback, Ganduje downplayed any immediate threat. He suggested that strong rhetoric is common in politics and indicated that developments would unfold in due course. He added that political anxieties among rivals were not unexpected in the evolving landscape.
Further talking, he said, “He wants to become president or vice president of the country. He tried to use the Kano State as a starting point.
“Even when we were both in the APC, and I was governor, he left the party—not because we forced him out or had a major disagreement, but because he wanted to be vice president or president. He knew he couldn’t get that in the APC with Muhammadu Buhari as president, so he joined the PDP to contest.”
He added that during the presidential primaries, Atiku Abubakar emerged victorious while Kwankwaso finished fourth.
Afterward, Kwankwaso moved to the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and contested the presidency but was unsuccessful. He alleged that Kwankwaso now intends to use the state government as a political platform again.
However, he expressed confidence that the administration in Kano State would not allow that to happen. He concluded by saying that if Kwankwaso decides to return, they are waiting.
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