The ruling All Progressives Congress has accused Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, the National Leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party, of intentionally seeking to diminish the political significance of its National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, in Kano State. This assertion was made by the National Legal Adviser of the APC, Prof Abdulkareem Kana, during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today. Ganduje and Kwankwaso, both former governors of Kano, have had a falling out due to political disagreements in the state. Kana claimed that the leadership of the NNPP and its members in Kano State were orchestrating a series of sponsored protests aimed at ousting Ganduje as the national chairman of the APC. The lawyer further characterized these protests as a display of power intended to render Ganduje inconsequential in the upcoming state election.
Kana stated, “Although I am not from Kano, I have heard from prominent politicians who suggest that there is a conflict between Kwankwaso and Ganduje. This conflict seems to be an effort to sow discord within our party. I have listened to my chairman’s views on this matter, and I am inclined to agree with his assessment that the objective is to undermine Ganduje’s standing in the lead-up to the next election in the state, possibly diminishing his influence in Kano. However, the reasons behind the apparent breakdown in the relationship between him and Kwankwaso remain unclear. These are two seasoned politicians with a shared history. I believe this is purely political maneuvering, and eventually, I am optimistic that they will reconcile their differences.”
Furthermore, Kana emphasized that those who falsely claimed allegiance to the APC were not genuine members of the party, but were associated with the NNPP. He dismissed the NNPP’s attempts to disrupt the APC, stating that they could not destabilize the party. Kana commended Ganduje’s leadership qualities, describing him as a father figure who is inclusive in his approach and possesses valuable administrative experience that benefits the party.
In response to these events, Ladipo Johnson, the National Publicity Secretary of NNPP, criticized the APC as a party in disarray with a leader detached from reality. Johnson remarked, “Typically, the NNPP refrains from engaging in disputes or responding to every statement made by Ganduje and the APC. The issues Ganduje is facing are of his own making, stemming from a conflict with the executives of his ward, yet he lacks the courage to address these charges in court.”
It is, however, worth noting that there have been several attempts to unseat Ganduje from his position. Recently, a group of protesters gathered at the APC headquarters in Abuja to demand his resignation and the return of the party leadership seat, previously held by Abdullahi Adamu, to the North Central zone. The demonstrators called for Ganduje’s resignation following his suspension by a faction of his ward executive and the bribery allegations leveled against him by the Kano State government.
