The Deputy National Chairman (North) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ali Bukar Dalori, has stepped in as the Acting National Chairman of the ruling party following the resignation of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
Ganduje, a former governor of Kano State, tendered his resignation on Thursday, bringing an abrupt end to his tenure which began in August 2023. His exit comes amid internal agitation over zoning arrangements within the APC.
Confirming the development, APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said in a statement, “His resignation, which is effective immediately, was offered to enable him attend to urgent and important personal matters.”
Morka further revealed that Ganduje submitted his resignation to the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) through the National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru.
“In his letter of resignation addressed to the National Working Committee (NWC) through the National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, Ganduje expressed gratitude to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Tinubu, for the opportunity to serve the party at the highest level,” Morka stated.
He added that the party’s Deputy National Chairman (North), Ali Bukar Dalori, has been directed to assume the role of Acting National Chairman, pending a formal meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), scheduled for December.
Ganduje, who served as governor of Kano State from 2015 to 2023, had succeeded Senator Abdullahi Adamu from the North Central zone. His appointment was controversial, with critics arguing it breached APC’s zoning principles, which usually rotate leadership positions across geopolitical zones.
Throughout his tenure, he dedicated himself to strengthening the party’s unity and cohesion, expounding its democratic ideals and enhancing the party’s electoral competitiveness. The confidence placed in him by the party’s NEC and national caucus meetings in February 2025 was a profound recognition and honour for his service. He leaves his position as national chairman with great pride in our collective achievements, including successful defections from opposition parties and legal affirmations of our party leadership’s legitimacy,” Morka said.
The APC spokesman assured party members and supporters that the party remains committed to its political mission under President Tinubu.
In January 2025, President Tinubu appointed Ganduje as the Chairman of the Board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
