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  • Tinubu’s policies yielding positive results, say Akume, Ganduje

    Tinubu’s policies yielding positive results, say Akume, Ganduje

    …task Nigerians on patience

    Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, and national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, on Thursday, May 30, said President Bola Tinubu’s policies are already yielding positive results.

    This is even as Akume and Ganduje appealed to Nigerians to remain patient, saying succour would come soon.

    The SGF and APC boss spoke at the public presentation of a book titled: “The 365 Days of Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidency: Resetting the Strategic Foundation for a New Nigeria” in Abuja.

    The book jointly authored by the chairman of the United States chapter of the APC, Professor Tai Balofin, and a colleague, Prof Bolu Folayan was unveiled at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.

    Akume noted that Nigeria is not insulated from global economic challenges but said that Tinubu’s administration has taken bold initiatives which include fuel subsidy removal and diversification of the economy through the revitalization of the solid mineral sector.

    He said: “The President has commissioned one of the major roads in Abuja. I was there with him and the national chairman of the APC. Many more have also been pencilled down for commissioning. We want to inform Nigerians that we are making progress.

    “If we can achieve this much in one year, imagine what we can achieve in the remaining years to come. I encourage everyone here including Nigerians to continue to support this government.

    “We are here at this conference to give Nigerians the opportunity to see what the government has been able to do within 12 out of 48 months given to him to fix this country.

    “We are on the right track and we want to also thank Nigerians for showing support to this government.”

    The former governor of Benue state said Tinubu took certain painful but necessary decisions that ultimately would turn around the fortunes of Nigerians for good.

    “President Bola Tinubu is someone I have known since 1993. He is a great Nigerian who is at home with everybody irrespective of religion, tribe, and political affiliations. I know the number of people I took to him.

    “Initially, he had some reservations but he received them. Today, some of them are his very close associates. He loves this country, no doubt about it.

    Read Also: Tinubu repositioning Nigeria on path of recovery- NDRBDA boss Amgbare

    “When you mentioned earlier that the kingmaker has become king, it is the truth. To further show his popularity during the last election, he went on to defeat the northern candidate, even in Kano. Asiwaju has a third eye, which we don’t have.

    “He has this knack for identifying very popular political direction and also demonstrates exceptional qualities. That is the hallmark of leadership.

    “Otherwise, we will be chasing shadows. He has friends across the nation and that is why today we celebrate him.”

    The national chairman of the APC, Ganduje, spoke in a similar vein as he declared that the hard decisions of President Tinubu which have led to the fall of the Naira and high prices of foodstuffs were beginning to yield the desired result.

    He told the gathering of APC faithful that President Tinubu always put the interest of the country first in every decision he makes.

    “I want to urge Nigerians to show patience and understanding in this administration’s efforts to address some of these challenges ranging from economy, security and other ones. This I believe has been highlighted by the authors in the book.

    “The pronouncement of Emilokan (it is my turn) was made in my presence in Ogun State. I feel highly honoured to chair this book presentation to mark Tinubu’s one year in office.

    “Let me also use the occasion to congratulate Mr President and all Nigerians on this occasion of the 365 days of this golden administration.

    “There is no doubt that since his assumption of office, Mr President has faced so many challenges, many of which are global. Some are inherited. But there has been some progress.”

    The book reviewer, Prof Olalekan Akashoro, lauded the authors for offering what he called detailed literature on the political trajectory of President Tinubu and his notable achievements in the last 365 days.

    He disclosed that the first three chapters of the book captured Tinubu’s formative years and incursion into politics.

    “But the fourth and fifth chapters chronicled the build-up to the 2023 presidential election and Asiwaju’s political strategies.

    “Chapter 12, on the other hand, dealt with the legal fireworks that eventually led to the Supreme Court affirming his election victory,” he said.

    Also speaking, notable businessman, billionaire oil mogul and politician, Arthur Eze, expressed dissatisfaction about the performance of state governors.

    He appealed to Nigerians not to lose hope but to continue to support the President whom he described as an advocate of change in the country.

    He said: “In calling for a Renewed Hope, we are calling for a new Nigeria. We are lucky to have somebody like Tinubu leading this country. Look at the local government funds the politicians stole. The governors stole all the money building mansions everywhere from America to Dubai.

    “But Tinubu came and said the money should be returned back to the poor. I am hearing this for the first time in the history of my life. I thank the authors for this book, which I am willing to launch for N20million.”

  • Ganduje’s frosty ties with Sanusi

    Ganduje’s frosty ties with Sanusi

    Sanusi was appointed Emir of Kano in 2014 by Rabiu Kwankwaso government. Abdullahi Ganduje was deputy governor. He succeeded Kwankwaso.

    But Ganduje barely had a good relationship with Sanusi soon when he came onboard in 2015.

    In 2017, Ganduje was said to have engineered a plot to remove Sanusi through a probe of the emirate council’s finances. The situation was however, halted after a series of high-level interventions.

    Sanusi also generated controversies with his utterances, often criticisms directed at Ganduje’s policies and actions. He often passed harsh verdicts on the then Buhari administration’s economic policies as they related to foreign exchange. At a point he even alleged that the government was breeding corruption.

    Read Also: Onjeh congratulates reinstated Kano Emir Sanusi

    The other time in 2017 when Ganduje travelled to China for a $1.8 billion light rail agreement with China EXIM Bank, Sanusi used the rostrum at the Kaduna investment summit to criticise the decision.

    In 2019 polls, Ganduje accused Sanusi of opposing his state policies and publicly campaigning against his second term election.

    The Kano emirate had been a mono chiefdom -a single rulership – since the establishment of the Sokoto caliphate in 1804. But to reduce Sanusi’s power, Ganduje altered history by creating four more emirates and Sanusi’s reign over the 44 local governments was cut down to only eight. But that was not enough as Ganduje later dethroned him.

    Ganduje defended his action saying: “It is not vendetta, I am not against him (Sanusi). In fact, he is supposed to be reporting to the local government chairman according to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

  • Ganduje donates N5m, rice to victims of Kano Mosque attack

    Ganduje donates N5m, rice to victims of Kano Mosque attack

    Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has donated N5 million to victims of the recent attack on Gadan Mosque in Gezawa Local Government in Kano.

    The former governor also gave 50 bags of rice to the victims.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that one Shafiu Abuvakar, 38, on May 18, set the Mosque during the dawn prayer.

    The dawn attack left 18 people dead and 25 others injured.

    Ganduje, who was represented by a delegation led by the APC chairman in Kano State, Abdullahi Abbas, visited the victims in the hospital and the affected Mosque.

    Read Also: Clark in letter to Ganduje, Damagum: wade in Fubara/Wike feud

    The national chairman expressed his condolences and prayed for the souls of those who died in the attack, while wishing those injured quick recovery.

    He also promised to rebuild the burnt Mosque.

    NAN reports that the seven injured victims still in the hospital got a donation of N50,000 each, while N5 million was donated to families of those killed.

    (NAN)

  • APC targets more states, Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, says Ganduje

    APC targets more states, Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, says Ganduje

    The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has said that the governing party is set to win more states in 2027 and ensure the re-election of President Bola Tinubu for a second term.

    He made this revelation on Tuesday, May 21, at the maiden edition of the policy round-table discussion tagged: “The Asiwaju Scorecard Series” organised by a support group of the party, APC Professionals Forum as build up the first anniversary of President Tinubu-led administration in Abuja.

    Reviewing the success story of the administration, the APC chairman noted that Nigeria’s economy has been transformed into a credit-based consumer economy that will improve agriculture, with emphasis on dry season farming, with a positive impact on food security, food prices, and enabling infrastructure, access to education, among others.

    He also noted that with the shift in the economy to renewable and sustainable energy sources, the use of cheap and clean Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) has now become a reality under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

    Cataloguing the modest achievements of the APC-led administration, Ganduje said that on infrastructure, “Mr. President has approved the construction/completion and rehabilitation of several road projects across the country to include the Kano – Abuja Road, Kano – Eastern Bypass Road Project, the 700 Km Lagos – Calabar Coastal Road, the 1000 Km Badagry – Sokoto Road, the 3500 Units Renewed Hope Housing Cities and Estates now being built in 13 states of the country, for starters.

    Read Also: APC will train, equip forests squad to tackle banditry, says Ganduje

    “In the next few days, the Students Loan Fund will become operational, and Nigerian youth will now have easier access to higher education by applying for funds from the scheme.

    “On power, I have observed the increased transmission capacity of the country that now peaks at 14,000 megawatts.”

    In the efforts for the party to sustain its position as the governing party ahead of the 2027 general elections, Ganduje said: “Even though it is not yet an election period, we are reinvigorating that party to ensure that come 2027, we will retain and get new state governors, as well as Mr President, to secure another mandate to continue with his government’s policies and programmes.

    “We have also constituted at the national level a Reconciliation Committee that would reconcile all aggrieved Party members, and such committee will be established at the state, local government, and ward levels.”

     The national chairman said efforts are on to restructure the party into a truly grassroots progressive party.

    “We have directed our State Chapters to liaise with their respective governors and other stakeholders to ensure that we have full-fledged, functional offices in every political ward and state to enable our members across the country to have symbolic representation in their neighbourhood,” he said.

  • We’ll train, equip forests squad with modern tech to tackle banditry – Ganduje

    We’ll train, equip forests squad with modern tech to tackle banditry – Ganduje

    The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji  Abdullahi Ganduje has stated that the administration of President Bola Tinubu will soon train and equip Forests Rapid Response Squad with modern technology to tackle banditry and kidnapping.

    The former governor of Kano state said the Forest Rapid Response Squad who will be trained, equiped and provided with technology, will be stationed within the forest to retake the forest from bandits, kidnappers and other criminals using the forest for their nefarious acts.

    “We must train Forest Rapid Respond Squad that are stationed within the forests, with their houses and infrastructural facilities within the forests. We must train them, equip them and provide technology in our forests, so that we can take over completely. If we succeed in doing that, then the issue of banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery, will be eventually resolved.

    “Enough is enough for the large scale insecurity in some part of the country including our own geopolitical zone. We must all work together to ensure the security of lives and property of our people. This is the cardinal objective of any government in power.

    “If we work together as a team to ensure the security of lives and property in our geographical zone, the democratic dividends and economic viability will be the order of the day. In order to achieve this, we must think out of the box.”

    Addressing the inaugural APC Northwest Stakeholders Meeting on Sunday at Murtala Square Kaduna, Ganduje said “we are all aware of the crisis between farmers and elders, which graduated into cattle rustling, which graduated into kidnapping, which graduated into banditry.

    “We are all aware that our forest in Nigeria and all over the world were meant to balance the ecosystem. But what is happening to our forest now? Our forest are only forests to us, but they are cities to bandits. So, we must find out a practical solution to these problems. We must protect our forests.”

    The APC national chairman lauded President Bola Tinubu for his political sagacity in handling the myriad of challenges facing the country, and called for support from stakeholders in the northwest to assist president in leading the country out of the security and economic challenges facing it to prosperity.

    “This is the first time a thoroughbred democrat and politician is leading our country as President. So, we have no excuse to fail. 

    “President Bola Tinubu has not left anyone in doubt about his genuine commitment to turn fortunes of our nation around for the betterment of all of us. There is an urgent need for our party stakeholders to engage in massive sensitization of Nigerians on the giant strides of Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to facilitating a Nigeria that truly works for all classes of Nigerians.

    “The president has clearly shown us that politics must not always divide us or cause bad blood. The President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu from what we have seen has stuck to the path of rebuilding Nigeria.

    “I decided to dwell in this since the President is the leader of our party. The President has gone ahead to appoint some opposition personalities into key ministries and offices, which is a key example of politics without bitterness. We must commend him for this.

    Read Also: Oyedokun, Babayemi’s defection to APC will end Adeleke’s govt in Osun – APC chieftain

    “We need peace and unity if we must achieve success in all our endeavors. No seed of progress can grow where there is crisis. We need to work as a team. If we work as a team, we will be able to attract the best to our domain, that is the Northwest zone. A house divided against itself cannot stand the test of time.

    “Politics is about superior negotiating skills, not pull him down stunt; those who resulted to that in the past have had themselves to blame. The politics of rising men and women is what actually brought Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to the Presidency and that is a lesson we all must imbibe.

    “If we come to support ourselves, rally round the President, build our party and develop our geopolitical zone to enviable height economically and politically, together we will reap the fruit of our labour.

    “We must salvage Nigeria and make it a land of prosperity for all of us and our children. We must stand against the words of bitterness and rancour. It must be a new dawn for our geopolitical zone.

    “This times we are calling for close consultation and collaboration and the common objective is to work for unity, stability and progress of Nigeria and our party, to make it formidable like the rock of Gibraltar,” Ganduje said.

    Also speaking at the meeting, speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen urged the APC national chairman to constitute reconciliation committees that would unite the members of the party nationwide.

    Abbas noted that some members of the APC were aggrieved, which was why there was the need to reconcile and make peace with them to bring more successes to the APC as one big political family.

    The speaker, who commended President Bola Tinubu for giving key political positions to the Northwest, urged the zone to reciprocate the gesture by redoubling its efforts in ensuring success for the President come 2027.

    He also urged APC leadership to use their position in addressing the high turnover rate of members of the National Assembly, saying APC members that performed well should be given the opportunity to return in 2027.

  • Kano arson: Ganduje seeks support for families of victims

    Kano arson: Ganduje seeks support for families of victims

    The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has solicited support for families of the victims of arson attack on a mosque at Larabar Abasawa in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano state.

    The attack led to the death of 15 worshippers with 17 others sustaining injuries. 

    In the early hours of Wednesday, 38-year old Shafi’u Abubakar sprayed the mosque with petrol, locked its doors and ignited a deposited gallon filled with fuel.

    Thirty-two persons observing their early morning prayers when Abubakar set the mosque ablaze because of “a prolonged family disagreement over sharing of inheritance.”

    Expressing condolence in a statement he personally signed in Abuja on Saturday on behalf of the APC state chairman and its gubernatorial candidate, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas and Dr. Nasiru Yusuf  Gawuna, other stakeholders and the entire members of APC, Ganduje condemned the attack and consoled the families of the victims.

    The former Kano Governor said he was deeply saddened by the unfortunate tragedy in which the worshippers were gruesomely killed and offered words of comfort and support to those recovering from their injuries.

    According to him: “This tragic attack should rightly shake our people to their cores, considering the magnitude of losses; and we stand in solidarity with those who are mourning the loss of their loved ones. Our thoughts and prayers are with each and every individual impacted by this tragedy.

    “In times like these, it is crucial that we come together to support one another, offering comfort, strength, and compassion to those in need.”

    The APC chairman urged everyone, particularly the those in privileged positions to lend a helping hand to those affected and to provide whatever assistance they can during this difficult time.

    While thanking the people of the state for their support and prayer, Ganduje assured them that the prevailing economic situation will soon be over when the full economic policies of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu is gradually implemented. 

  • Kano probe: Independent CSO report clears Ganduje of any wrongdoing

    Kano probe: Independent CSO report clears Ganduje of any wrongdoing

    The National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, has been cleared of alleged corruption.

    The Coalition for Truth and Justice made this known in its preliminary report on the purported probe of the  former Kano Governor. 

    In the report signed by its convener Dr Okwa Dan, the Coalition said from qits findings, there was an intense campaign aimed at character assassination and mischief against Ganduje.  

    The Coalition added that the alleged evidence presented against Ganduje on supposed bribery lacks the necessary clarity and direct linkage to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

    It warned against the use of state apparatus to witch-hunt perceived political opponents. 

    “The Coalition for Trust and Justice wishes to use this medium to inform members of the public of the smear campaign, which does not reflect the realities on the ground with the allegations,” the statement began. 

    “The allegations remain a figment of the imaginations of its proponents, who have recently deployed enormous resources in the diatribe against Dr Umar Ganduje. It is instructive to note that Dr Umar Ganduje is targeted because of his position as the National Chairman of the APC, which has witnessed proactive leadership in managing the affairs of the APC. 

    “Our findings showed that the Kano state government elected to play in the gallery by spreading falsehood and giving a dog a bad name to hang. The recent probe is one such example of the slander campaign against Dr Umar Ganduje that can’t be substantiated. It is a feeble attempt at tarnishing the image of the national chairman of the APC.

    “To ensure we are not weighing in on the wrong side of history, the Coalition for Truth and Justice (CTJ) diligently examined the allegations of corruption levelled against Dr. Umar Ganduje,). Our preliminary findings are based on rigorous research, legal analysis, and adherence to principles of natural justice.

    Read Also: Kano Chief Judge reassigns Ganduje’s case

    “The bribery allegations against Dr. Ganduje are serious and should have ordinarily merit thorough investigation. However, the allegations must be approached with fairness and objectivity, not the kind of lynch mob that the incumbent Kano State Government has convened. Our research reveals that the evidence presented lacks the necessary clarity and direct linkage to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

    “The probe, teleguided by Dr. Ganduje’s predecessor in the person of Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankawso, raises questions about its procedural integrity. The absence of due process, including proper documentation and adherence to legal protocols, undermines the investigation. Its credibility is eroded.

    “Dr. Ganduje, like any other citizen, enjoys the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. As a result, we, place it on record that allegations alone do not constitute guilt. The burden of proof lies with the accusers.

    “The allegations against Dr. Ganduje are mostly anchored on a piece of supposed video evidence. This widely circulated video allegedly showing Dr. Ganduje receiving bribes lacks authenticity and context. Without proper forensic analysis and verification, relying solely on this video undermines the pursuit of justice. We took note that the video evidence has been discredited. prior

    “The entire episode, therefore, has all the markings of selective targeting. This raises several posers. Why focus solely on Dr. Ganduje when corruption allegations cut across various political offices? Why not have a holistic and comprehensive investigation that includes all relevant actors? 

    “After an extensive assessment of the allegations, the Coalition for Truth and Justice states that some vested interests are behind the slander campaign to cause untoward embarrassment to Dr Umar Ganduje. 

    “The Coalition for Truth and Justice frowns at such a disposition that has the potential to elicit negative remarks on the personality of Dr Umar Ganduje. Given the findings of our preliminary analysis of the issues in focus, we boldly state this. 

    “Our findings revealed that the allegations have political undertones that were well intended towards mischief rather than facts or evidence. Therefore, the purported probe remains a waste of time and resources by the Kano State government. 

    “The Coalition for Truth and Justice wishes to state in unequivocal terms that Dr Umar Ganduje did not commit any infraction while in office as they would want the unsuspecting members of the general public to believe. The facts before us indicate a regime of transparency and accountability. 

    “The Coalition for Truth and Justice, as a result of this, informs members of the general public that the allegations of corruption against Dr Umar Ganduje are, at best, a political strategy aimed at shifting focus on the ineptitude of the government of Kano state in delivering on the dividends of democracy.”

  • ‘Ganduje, Basiru’s leadership style attracting mass defection from PDP, LP into APC’

    ‘Ganduje, Basiru’s leadership style attracting mass defection from PDP, LP into APC’

    A Socio-Political group, Progressives Youths In United Kingdom (SPYUK) has attributed the recent defections of bigwigs from opposition parties into All Progressives Congress (APC) to the good style of leadership by national executives.

    The group through its Coordinator, Tunmise Ajiboye in a statement on Saturday lauded the National Chairman of APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, and its Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru for galvanizing the party and making it an abode for all.

    Ajiboye expressed confidence that “Ganduje’s leadership will effortlessly deliver both 2024 Edo and Ondo guber election to APC as more people from opposition parties are joining the ruling party including Dotun Babayemi (Osun), Obinna Nwosu, amongst others.

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    “The style adopted by the Ganduje-led executive is attracting strong chieftains from the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP),  and Labour Party (LP), among others.

    His words: “As APC Chairman, Ganduje has been promoting party discipline. The party’s achievements under his leadership are a testament to his dedication and hard work. From electoral victories to policy initiatives, his team has consistently demonstrated a capacity for effective governance and a passion for improving the lives of Nigerians.

  • Who wants Ganduje out of Muhammadu Buhari House?

    Who wants Ganduje out of Muhammadu Buhari House?

    The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has recently been in the eye of the storm, as plots to remove him from office thicken. JIDE ORINTUNSIN examines the dilemma facing the two-term former Kano State governor

    Since August 3, 2023, the former governor of Nigeria’s most populous state – Kano State has occupied the highest administrative seat of Africa’s largest political party. His emergence as the 6th National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was deftly and smoothly perfected.

    The misdemeanour of his predecessor, Senator Abdullahi Adamu paved the way for him. Even at the expense of the power-sharing formula, which favours the North Central geo-political zone, Ganduje from the Northwest took the oath of office at the prestigious Congress Hall of the Transcop Hilton Hotel as the 6th National Chairman of the APC and pledged to take the party to greater heights.

    For anyone who cares to listen, the former Kano governor never minced words when he pledged to hit the ground running and ensure that the party imbibes internal democracy. He said he would make it a point to consult widely with stakeholders and make the party functional.

    Ganduje pledged to sustain and expand the number of elected positions secured by the party in the last general elections. He also promised to undertake a scientific database of the party’s registered members and manage conflicts quickly and effectively.

    Though Ganduje may have the endorsement of many stakeholders, including the National Caucus of the party, the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), State Chairmen from the Northwest and some elders and stakeholders from North Central, his emergence was strongly opposed from within and outside the party. In the last eight months on the saddle, the plot to remove him from office got thicker by the day. 

    The moves to get him sacked were laced with some tactics, falsehood and decoy. The attacks were launched from within the party and in the state, through sponsored protests, petitioning and court order. The motive is to confuse him and ultimately force him to resign.

    The first salvo was from the former National Vice Chairman (Northwest) – accidentally the representative of Ganduje’s state in the National Working Committee (NWC), Salihu Moh. Lukman will not want a Ganduje occupying the highest administrative seat of the party.

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    In a letter to the Chairman of PGF and governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodinma dated July 21 titled, “APC National Chairman: PGF should serve as the Conscience of the APC”, Lukman kicked against the forum’s endorsement of Ganduje, even before he was sworn in by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

    The Zaria-born labour-activist-turned politician who admitted the rights of the governors to endorse any candidate for any position, vehemently opposed them, insisting that the governors should drop their support for Ganduje in the interest of justice and fairness to the North Central zone where Abdullahi Adamu hails from.

    His words: “Given the implication of such endorsement in terms of being unjust and unfair to the North Central region and given that the position of the National Chairman is zoned to North Central based on which zoning for leadership of National Assembly was decided, it simply suggests that the PGF has deviated from its traditional role of acting as the conscience of the party.

    “If PGF is to act as the conscience of the party, even if assuming as it is being promoted in the public that the endorsement is coming from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the PGF I know would have taken every step to convince the president otherwise and if the president insisted, they would have shielded the President by owning the l. But to handle the endorsement in the way it appears in the public is unfair to President Tinubu and unfair to Dr. Ganduje who is alleged to have put so much pressure on the president, which is not true.

    “I want to strongly appeal to Your Excellency, as the PGF Chairman to kindly return PGF to its conventional role of acting as the conscience of the party by ensuring that the party always takes the right decisions, which will protect the interest of every member, every region and all interest. The PGF under Your Excellency’s leadership must not be seen to be promoting or condoning decisions that are liable to acts of injustice and unfairness to any member, section of the country, or interest,” Lukman stated in the letter.

    Despite the strong media campaign by Lukman, the two-term former governor of Kano State survived the battle; he became the 6th National Chairman of the APC.

    Ganduje scaled the initial hurdle in Abuja and settled down to work. But, alas, back in his homestead – Kano State — where he held sway for eight years as the executive governor, a series of ferocious attacks were fired against him. This time around the plots were allegedly planned, orchestrated and hatched by the government of his successor, Governor Yusuf Abbas of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to eventually pull the rug off the feet of the APC National Chairmanship.

    Many political observers believe that the current travails of Ganduje predated his emergence as National Chairman of the APC. It is the continuation of a deep-rooted political animosity between him and his former boss – Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, which is being executed by the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) led administration in Kano State.

    For the Kwankwasyya group, the electoral victory of the NNPP-led administration of Yusuf Abba was a veritable platform to decapitate Ganduje from the political equation of Kano state and Nigeria in general.

    From May 29, 2023, the Kano State government never hid its resolve to erase any legacy of the eight-year administration of Ganduje in the state. Like a thunderbolt, a few hours into the office, Abba demolished properties directly or indirectly owned by Ganduje or any of his cronies. At the end of the operation, property worth over N200 billion including a three-storey complex with 90 shops near the Nasarawa GRA, the three-star Daula Hotel reconstructed by the  Ganduje administration under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement, a building at the Hajj Camp, and a complex of shops at the Kantin Kwari textile market were all pulled down.

    Determined to cut the political wings and the rising profile of Ganduje, the NNPP-led government commenced a legal battle, and arraigned him in court on April 17 over his involvement in alleged bribery, diversion and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of $413,000 and N1.38billion.

    The dust raised by the legal action was yet to settle when the Judas within the APC struck. Ganduje ward “executive officers” in Dawakin Tofa Local Government of Kano State announced the suspension of the Chairman of Africa’s largest political party, without any trial or compliance with Article 21 of the APC Constitution which spelt out disciplinary actions against any erring members.

    From the blues and without justification, Ganduje’s ward “executives” announced his suspension. Their decision was based on the allegations of gross misconduct and misappropriation of public funds during his administration. It is the hand of Esau and the voice of Jacob.

    Political watchers were quick to see a semblance of the way Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was removed from office playing out. But, the authentic ward executive officers and the State Working Committee (SWC) have vowed not to allow him to be disgraced out of office.

    With dispatch, the ward, local government and SWC not only debunked the suspension but also stormed Abuja to reassure Ganduje of their support. They dissociated themselves from the purported suspension, describing the elements behind it as impostors and agents of the NNPP-led administration.

    The possibility of Ganduje’s exit became heightened when a Kano High Court in an interim order stopped the national chairman from parading himself in that position.

    The court also ordered Ganduje to stop presiding over the party’s affairs.

    But unknown to his political adversaries, Ganduje had on the same day approached a Federal High Court in Kano to seek an order to stop any move against him; a prayer the court expeditiously granted.

    Cashing on the development, a group of party members under the aegis of Concerned North Central APC Stakeholders rose in Abuja to demand Ganduje’s resignation. For them, the chairmanship seat is for their geo-political zone and not the Northwest where Ganduje hails from.

    The group faulted the vote of confidence passed on Ganduje’s leadership by the Forum of APC State Chairmen. Its leader, Mohammed Mahmud Saba, said his people in the North Central have passed a vote of no confidence on the national chairman and have also demanded his immediate resignation.

    In all these, Ganduje, the man at the centre of the storm believes the call for his head was not about him but about the political soul of Kano State in 2027 and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second term. To him, the NNPP-led administration is jittery about the rising profile of the president and the impending doom awaiting the ruling party come 2027.

    Hear him: “They are so concerned that we are battle-ready to take over the government come 2027. They are so concerned that we got the second-highest votes for Mr President and that we will get even higher votes in 2027 to make the contest a walkover.

    “Their motive is to create confusion in our party so that we won’t have the courage and mind to take over the government of Kano and to also ensure that our president does not have intimidating votes from Kano State. Their intentions will fail.

    The embattled chairman described the development as a new destructive phenomenon, saying the APC leadership would ensure that the impersonators are punished.

    “This is a new destructive phenomenon in a democracy which should not be allowed to thrive if elements of another political party could sit down and claim that they are executive members of another political party. I think this should be checked even by security agencies.”

    Checks in the party however showed that Ganduje had weathered the storm again. He is in firm control of the party structures and has continued to enjoy enormous support from various organs of the party.

    In the words of a party chieftain, Chief Alphonsus Ekong from Cross State, “We cannot allow Ganduje to go under now. We need him to continue to stabilise the party now that we are on a winning streak in most of our off-season elections. We should not allow opposition to distract us.”

    Only time will tell how the drama surrounding Ganduje will end.

  • Court urged to restrain Ganduje from further parading self as APC chairman

    Court urged to restrain Ganduje from further parading self as APC chairman

    The Federal High Court in Abuja has been urged to restrain the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje from further parading himself in that capacity.

    The court is equally asked to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to accord recognition to all actions taken by the APC, including congresses, primaries and nominations, since Ganduje became APC chairman on August 3, 2023.

    The requests form part of the reliefs being sought in a fresh suit filed by a group – the North Central APC Forum – led by Saleh Zazzaga.

    The plaintiff, in the suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/599/2024 is contending that Ganduje is occupying the office of the APC Chairman illegally, not being from a state in the North Central geo-political zone.

    It is the plaintiff’s contention that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the APC breached the party’s constitution when it appointed Ganduje, from Kano State in the North West geo- political zone to replace Senator Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa State in the North Central geo-political zone.

    The plaintiff is arguing that Ganduje’s appointment to replace Abdullahi was contrary to Article 31.5(1) f of the APC constitution and ultra vires the powers of the National Executive Committee of the party.

    It added that by the true  interpretation of Article 31.5(1) of the APC. Constitution 2013 (as amended), the party is bound to comply with the procedure for the replacement of an officer in the event of a vacancy and ought to appoint a member from Nasarawa State in the North Central geo- political zone into the office of the chairman of the party.

    Listed as defendants, in the suit filed for the plaintiff by its lawyer, Ayuba Abdul, are Ganduje, the APC and INEC.

    The plaintiff wants the court to among others, declare that by Article 20(1) of the APC constitution 2013 as amended, Ganduje cannot be appointed as the National Chairman of the party other than through democratic conducted elections and that his current occupation of the office is illegal.

    It equally seeks a declaration that by the provisions of Article 13 of the APC constitution 2013 (as amended), the party’s National Convention is the final authority of the party which has the power to elect or remove National Officers of the party including the National Chairman of the party.

    Read Also: Kwankwaso, NNPP behind Ganduje’s ‘suspension’ from APC, Basiru alleges

    It also wants a declaration that the party’s National Executive Committee lacked the power to appoint any person to the office of the Chairman.

    The plaintiffs is also praying the court for the following orders;

    *An order setting aside the appointment of the first defendant (Ganduje) as the Chairman of the second defendant (APC),same having not followed duly laid down procedures of the second defendant as enshrined in the second defendant’s constitution.

    *An order directing the third defendant (INEC) not to recognize all actions taken (including, but not limited to party congresses, primaries and nominations) by the second defendant during the tenure of chairmanship of the first defendant, from  August 3, 2023 till date, same being actions done under an illegal Chairman.

    *An order directing the third defendant to compel the second defendant to conduct a fresh convention for the sake of electing a National Chairman or appoint another National Chairman from Nasarawa State from the North Central geo-political zone in line with Article 31.5(i) of the Constitution of the All Progressives Congress, 2013 (as amended).

    Explaining the rationale behind the case, Zazzaga, said it is intended to ensure fairness and justice, because  the party has continued to ignore his group’s members request that the right thing be done.

    He said the progress of the APC is still their ultimate desire and urged the party to immediately do the needful to avoid any form of internal revolt that would give their opponents advantage over them. 

    Zazzaga added that doing the needful will avert any undesirable uncertainty for the party in the nearest future, arguing that Ganduje’s occupation of the position of the party’s National Chairman was not in the interest of the APC.