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Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is reportedly set to become the All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman.
The former Kano State Governor had a meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja yesterday, where he met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and three governors who are members of the APC.
If all goes as planned, the 73-year-old will be appointed as the interim national chairman of the ruling party, serving until the party's convention later in the year.
Earlier this week, Senator Abdullahi Adamu resigned as the party's national chairman, following a plot to push him out. The party's national secretary, Iyiola Omisore, also resigned.
Ganduje is expected to succeed Senator Abubakar Kyari, who was appointed as the acting national chairman on Monday. Kyari, from Borno State, serves as the party's deputy national chairman for the North.
President Tinubu reportedly expressed interest in appointing the fmr Governor as the party chairman upon his return from the African Union meeting in Kenya.
To ensure support for Ganduje's appointment, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, who chairs the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), was contacted to gain the support of his colleagues and other key stakeholders.
On Tuesday, Uzodinma met with Ganduje, and subsequently, both of them, along with Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, met President Tinubu.
According to a source from the presidency, the decision to appoint Ganduje as the party's chairman was sealed during this meeting. Later, the president, three governors, and Ganduje met with Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The source revealed that discussions about Ganduje becoming the party's chairman began on Monday when the chairman of the PGF met with him in Abuja.
Uzodinma informed the former Kano State governor about the president's intention to appoint him as the party's chairman.
The decision appears to be final, and Ganduje will likely be announced as the interim national chairman, pending ratification at the party's convention.
With this development, the APC's leadership has shifted from the North Central geopolitical zone, which was the home of Senator Adamu, prompting lobbying efforts from party chieftains in that region.
Credit: DailyTrust
