Amidst intense pressure, the Nigerian Presidency is reportedly evaluating potential replacements for APC chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, who faces corruption probes and suspension threats. The party seeks to restore integrity ahead of the crucial 2023 elections.
The political future of Abdullahi Ganduje, the embattled national chairman of Nigeria's ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), hangs in the balance as the party's top leadership weighs his potential ouster amid escalating allegations of corruption and mismanagement.
According to Leadership, President Bola Tinubu has given the green light for stakeholders to begin the search for Ganduje's replacement, with a focus on candidates from the North Central region, as originally planned by the party. The Villa's reported silence on Ganduje's recent political travails is seen as a strategic move, allowing the party to navigate the complex web of alliances and rivalries ahead of the crucial 2023 general elections.
With Tinubu's base in the North appearing to fracture, and tensions rising with allies like former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai, the President may need to forge new alliances – a process that could involve making tough decisions."So he might be firmer to ask himself what political value the embattled chairman has to him ahead of 2027. Kano State is a strategic state that any incumbent or presidential candidate would need to have on his side," a party chieftain explained.
Ganduje's woes have been compounded by several factors, including allegations of mishandling party primaries in Edo and Ondo states, as well as an ongoing probe into his tenure as Kano State governor. Additionally, the prospect of former Kano governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), potentially rejoining the APC has further complicated the situation.
While Ganduje has fought back against suspension attempts by party executives in Kano, citing political persecution by the NNPP-led state government, his grip on the chairmanship appears to be slipping. "The APC leadership, at federal and state levels, has since distanced themselves from the suspension moves," a source revealed, adding that Ganduje has reached out to governors in a bid to salvage his position.
However, the demands for Ganduje's removal extend beyond Kano, with a serving senator and former national chairmanship aspirant reportedly recruited to ensure a legal challenge against the embattled chairman's leadership is not withdrawn.
As the battle for the APC's soul intensifies, the party finds itself at a crossroads, torn between its stated commitment to good governance and the lingering perceptions of entrenched corruption.
The decision on Ganduje's fate could shape the party's moral compass and credibility heading into the 2023 elections. "After the Ganduje debacle, we need to prioritize remolding the APC's image and shoring up public faith in our party's moral center," a committee member tasked with identifying potential replacements stressed. "Stellar ethics have to be the top criteria this time around."
Source: Leadership Newspaper
