Bukar Dalori takes over as APC acting chairman After Ganduje’s sudden resignation

Following the resignation of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party’s Deputy National Chairman (North), Alhaji Bukar Dalori, has stepped in as acting chairman in accordance with the party’s constitution.

His appointment is expected to stand pending further decisions by the National Executive Committee (NEC) or a national convention.

Ganduje’s resignation, which took effect on Friday, was confirmed by senior APC officials in Abuja. While his resignation letter cited personal health reasons, party sources indicate deeper political calculations and internal dynamics behind the move.

Scenes at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja reportedly reflected the surprise nature of the announcement. Staff and visitors were taken aback, with some of Ganduje’s aides seen packing up his personal items earlier in the day.

Insiders suggest that discussions surrounding the 2027 presidential race, particularly considerations over the zoning of the vice-presidential slot, influenced Ganduje’s decision.

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One source noted that if the vice presidency is zoned to the North-West—Ganduje’s home region—then the party chairmanship would likely rotate to another zone, in line with APC’s internal zoning arrangements.

Although the APC’s constitution officially zones the national chairmanship to the North Central, Ganduje, from Kano State in the North-West, assumed the role in August 2023 following the exit of Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

Dalori now assumes leadership under Section 14(2)(iii) of the APC Constitution, which empowers the Deputy National Chairman from the same region to act in the absence of the National Chairman.

So far, the party has not released an official timeline for selecting a permanent replacement. Meanwhile, Ganduje’s relatively short tenure was marred by internal conflicts, legal challenges, and controversies over high nomination fees during party primaries.

His departure injects further uncertainty into the APC’s leadership dynamics, as the party begins early positioning ahead of the crucial 2027 general elections.