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Akinwamde Soji-Ojo
Barring any last-minute changes, immediate past governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, will be named as interim national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), pending the conduct of the party’s special convention later in the year.
Ganduje, 73, was at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday, where he met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and three APC governors.
Recall that Senator Abdullahi Adamu had on Sunday resigned as the party’s national chairman, following a plot to edge him out. The national secretary of the party, Send Iyiola Omisore, also resigned.
Ganduje will take over from Senator Abubakar Kyari who was named as acting national chairman on Monday. Kyari, who hails from Borno State, is the deputy national chairman (North) of the party.
It was gathered that Tinubu had on his return from the African Union (AU) meeting in Kenya on Monday, indicated interest in making Ganduje the party chairman.
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, who is the chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), was contacted to get the buy-in of his colleagues and other critical stakeholders.
Uzodinma met with Ganduje on Tuesday, and they both met with the president along with Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Wednesday evening.
According to reports, the choice of Ganduje was sealed at the meeting. Thereafter, the president, three governors and Ganduje met with Vice President Kashim Shettima.
With the latest development, the party’s plum seat has moved from the North Central geopolitical zone where Adamu hails from, to the North West.
