The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) has reacted strongly to the purported suspension of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the party’s national chairman and former governor of Kano State.
The NWC, which initially did not respond to inquiries on Monday, has now petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, urging an investigation into the matter.
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In a statement issued by the APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, on Tuesday, the NWC emphasized that those behind the “criminal act” of suspending Ganduje were not legitimate members of the APC in his ward, as affirmed by the party’s executives in Ganduje’s ward and Dawakin Tofa LGA.
The alleged suspension was announced by Haladu Maigwanjo, identified as the APC legal adviser in Ganduje’s ward, at a press conference in Kano on Monday.
However, it was swiftly countered by the 27-man executives of the party at both the ward and LGA levels at another press conference at the party’s state secretariat in Kano.
The NWC condemned the purported suspension as a “devious act” by impersonators of ward officials aimed at causing confusion. It further alleged that the perpetrators had affiliations with senior officials and representatives of the New Nigeria People Party (NNPP).
The APC accused NNPP officials in Kano of orchestrating the suspension as part of a political persecution program against Ganduje, allegedly spearheaded by the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, an allegation denied by the Kano state government.
The party urged its members and the public to disregard reports of Ganduje’s suspension, reaffirming his position as the national chairman of the party.
In a separate development, the Kano State Anti-Corruption and Public Complaints Commission has announced fresh corruption and maladministration charges against Ganduje. According to the commission’s chairman, Muhuyi Magaji, investigations uncovered the diversion of N51.3 billion from local government funds and other financial irregularities during Ganduje’s tenure.
When contacted for a reaction on the fresh allegations, Ganduje’s Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olufu, declined to comment.
The state government has stated its intention to arraign Ganduje, along with his wife and son, for money laundering today.
