Bukar Dalori Takes Over as APC Acting Chairman After Ganduje’s Surprise Resignation

Alhaji Bukar Dalori, Deputy National Chairman (North) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has formally stepped into the role of acting National Chairman following the abrupt resignation of Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje. The development marks a major leadership shift in Nigeria’s ruling party as it prepares for key political battles ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Ganduje, who assumed the position in August 2023, vacated office less than a year into his tenure. His resignation, though officially unexplained, appears to be the culmination of intense internal pressure and strategic realignment within the party hierarchy. Party insiders say growing calls for the national chairmanship to return to the North Central zone—as stipulated in the APC’s zoning formula—played a central role in his departure.

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The party’s constitution, specifically Section 14(2)(iii), provides that the Deputy National Chairman from the same region shall assume leadership in the event of the chairman’s resignation. This clause has now elevated Dalori, a seasoned party administrator, to the top of the party’s organizational structure—at least temporarily.

A Party in Strategic Transition

While Ganduje has maintained silence on the specific reasons behind his decision, multiple party sources have linked his resignation to larger political calculations, including the 2027 presidential elections. A senior APC official, speaking anonymously, hinted that the possible return of the vice-presidential ticket to the North West—Ganduje’s geopolitical base—would have created a zoning imbalance had he remained chairman.

“In the event that the VP slot returns to the North West, it would be politically untenable for the party chairman to also be from the same region,” the official told Vanguard. “Besides, the chairmanship is meant to be with the North Central.”

This reshuffling aligns with long-standing internal party protocols designed to ensure regional balance and inclusivity across its leadership structure.

Ganduje’s sudden exit comes amid speculation that President Bola Tinubu is working behind the scenes to bring back his former political adversary and ex-Kano State governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, into the APC. Kwankwaso, who ran for president under the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in 2023, is considered a pivotal figure in Northern politics. His rumored return to APC, analysts say, could not coexist comfortably with Ganduje’s continued leadership, given their deep-seated rivalry.

Quiet Exit, Loud Repercussions

Ganduje’s departure was discreet. Staff at the APC national secretariat reported that his personal items were quietly removed from his office on Friday morning, before the public announcement. The move surprised even senior party members and came shortly after he led a National Working Committee delegation to pay a condolence visit to Niger State Governor Umaru Bago over flood and security challenges in the state.

Sources told The Cable that Ganduje’s resignation was strategic and possibly coordinated with President Tinubu’s broader political game plan.

“Between me and you, it is true, but I can’t confirm officially,” a senior party official said on condition of anonymity.

Although Ganduje cited health reasons in the past, he was seen in active political engagements, including attending an INEC consultative meeting just a day before stepping down. His tenure was marked by persistent internal tensions, legal battles, and deep factionalism in Kano’s APC chapter—largely driven by his rivalry with Kwankwaso.

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While Dalori assumes the acting role in line with the constitution, speculation is already building around who will take over permanently at the party’s December convention. One prominent name in circulation is that of Senator Umar Tanko Al-Makura, a former governor of Nasarawa State, who is widely respected across party lines and enjoys significant grassroots support in the North Central zone.

Party elders and strategists are reportedly working to ensure that the next national chairman emerges through consensus to avoid further internal divisions.

For now, Dalori’s immediate task will be to stabilize the party and oversee preparations for the December convention. He must also manage ongoing reconciliation efforts, particularly in the North, where political stakes are high.

Ganduje’s resignation and the evolving talks with Kwankwaso signal a fluid and dynamic phase for the APC as it recalibrates its political strategy for 2027. With the North’s political heavyweight potentially returning to the fold, the party appears to be consolidating power for a strong electoral outing.