A rift has emerged within the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the purported suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, by his ward in Dawakin Tofa Local Government of Kano State.
The suspension, declared by Halliru Gwanjo, the Legal Adviser of Ganduje’s ward, cited bribery allegations against Ganduje as the basis for the action. Gwanjo referenced ongoing legal proceedings against Ganduje, alleging bribery involving substantial sums.
However, the Kano State Chapter of the APC swiftly overruled Ganduje’s suspension and instead suspended the ward executives for six months. Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, the Kano APC Chairman, attributed the decision to evidence suggesting collusion between the ward executives and the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Kano State.
The national leadership of the APC in Abuja echoed similar sentiments, dismissing Ganduje’s suspension as orchestrated by the NNPP government and dissident members within the party. Prof. Abdulkareem Kana, the National Legal Adviser of the APC, emphasized that no party organ or structure was involved in the purported suspension.
Jamilu Jams, Ganduje’s Special Adviser on Legal Matters, called for the arrest of the implicated party leaders, alleging they were sponsored by the NNPP to disrupt the state’s political landscape.
Meanwhile, APC officials at the national level expressed scepticism regarding the suspension, noting the lack of formal communication from Ganduje’s ward. Sulaiman Argungu, the APC National Organising Secretary, questioned the grounds for Ganduje’s suspension, while Nze Chidi Duru, the Deputy Organising Secretary, emphasized the need for proper communication within the party.