Ganduje’s Exit Honorable And Strategic – APC Chieftain

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and former lawmaker, Cletus Obun, has said the resignation of Abdullahi Ganduje as National Chairman of the APC was a voluntary and strategic decision.

Naijaonpoint reports that Obun said Ganduje’s resignation is aimed at sustaining party unity and preparing the ground for a smooth leadership transition ahead of the next convention.

Obun made this known while speaking during a live interview on Arise News on Tuesday, noting that Ganduje stepped down “on his own terms” after what he described as a relatively peaceful tenure.

He noted that Ganduje never lobbied for the role of national chairman, but took it on to stabilise the party after the exit of Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

Obun said, “Dr. Ganduje has given personal reasons of health. But essentially, those of us within the party know that Ganduje was a reluctant chairman from the beginning. He didn’t vie for the position, but the party needed a stabilising figure after the 2023 elections.”

According to him, Ganduje was drafted into the role shortly after the swearing-in of President Bola Tinubu and he successfully helped calm post-election tensions within the party.

He further stated, “There was a lot of rancour in the build-up to the APC primaries. Adamu’s actions created tensions, and so the party agreed that he had to go. Ganduje came in to stabilise the system, and he did. Under his leadership, there’s been relative peace within the APC.”

Dismissing claims that Ganduje was forced out by emerging power blocs, Obun described his resignation as “honourable and timely,” and said it gives the APC sufficient time to choose a new chairman ahead of its next phase.

He stated, “Ganduje’s decision to leave is both honourable and timely. He has played his role as a man of peace. This is not about power play, it’s about preparing the party for future victories.”

‘No Threat To VP Shettima’s Position’

On fears that Ganduje’s resignation could be linked to a deeper restructuring that may affect Vice President Kashim Shettima, Obun swiftly dismissed such notions, affirming that the APC’s zoning principle remains untouched.

The APC Chieftain said, “At no time has the party agreed, nor has the president insinuated, that he’s about to change his vice.

“The vice presidency and the party chairmanship must both come from the North, while the presidency remains in the South. That is consistent with the APC’s zoning principle since 2015.”

He explained that although the current acting chairman, Ali Bukar Dalori, is from the North-East like Shettima, it is merely a transitional arrangement.

Obun stated, “The current acting chairman is a midwife. Eventually, the position of chairman will go to another part of the North, most likely the North-Central or North-West. We will not have two key party positions from the same zone.”

Responding to claims that Ganduje’s exit may be paving the way for political rivals in Kano, including Rabiu Kwankwaso, Obun downplayed such theories and stressed that the party will not abandon its loyal base for new alliances.

He said, “Most people don’t understand the historical dynamics between Ganduje and those they consider his enemies.

“Political alliances shift based on convenience, not personal enmity. In Kano, these figures have been long-time allies despite their party differences.”

He stated, “It’s irresponsible for a man to discard his old wife just because he wants to marry a new one. The APC is not doing that. The goal is to expand, not to replace loyal stakeholders.”

‘Every Region Has A Place In The APC Structure’

Highlighting the party’s commitment to regional balance, Obun said that all geopolitical zones currently have fair representation in both the APC and the federal government.

“In the North-East, we have the Vice President and Deputy Senate President. The North-West has the Speaker. The North-Central has the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). So no region is being left out,” he said.

Obun concluded by reaffirming that Vice President Shettima remains secure in his role, and that the APC’s focus is now on consolidation, not restructuring.

He added, “The vice president is sitting well and sitting pretty. The political calculations now are not about changing the vice president. It’s about consolidating our gains and preparing for future victories.”