The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has tendered his resignation with immediate effect, Saturday Vanguard has exclusively gathered.

The former Kano State Governor, who assumed the APC national leadership in August 2023, cited health concerns as the official reason for stepping down. However, party insiders suggest that deeper political undercurrents contributed significantly to his sudden exit.

Behind the Scenes: Zoning Politics and 2027 Ambitions

According to credible party sources, Ganduje’s resignation may have been influenced by strategic repositioning within the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections. Notably, the race for the vice-presidential slot—expected to be zoned to the North West—is intensifying, and this has implications for the zoning of the national chairman’s seat.

“Many top politicians are already positioning themselves to be picked as Tinubu’s running mate in 2027. If the vice presidency goes to the North West, the national chairmanship will have to shift elsewhere, likely back to the North Central, where it was originally zoned,” a source disclosed.

The political balancing act, therefore, may have left Ganduje with little choice but to step down.

Al-Makura Tipped as Successor

In the wake of Ganduje’s departure, Senator Umar Tanko Al-Makura, former governor of Nasarawa State, has emerged as the top contender for the position of APC National Chairman. Party insiders indicate that Al-Makura enjoys broad support and fits the party’s zoning calculus.

“As far as I know, Al-Makura is top on that list,” a well-placed source told Saturday Vanguard.

Controversy-Plagued Tenure

Dr. Ganduje’s short stint as APC Chairman was fraught with internal crises, court injunctions, and factional disputes. In April 2024, a Kano State High Court barred him from parading as a party member, following a suit by party executives from his home state. Though a Federal High Court in Abuja later dismissed a suit seeking his removal filed by the APC North Central Forum, the damage to his authority was already significant.

His aides were seen moving personal effects out of the APC national secretariat even before the resignation became public, catching many staff and visitors off guard.

Dr. Ganduje served as the Governor of Kano State from 2015 to 2023 before taking over the APC leadership amid growing internal dissent. His exit may now pave the way for a broader party restructuring in anticipation of the 2027 elections.