Political Reckoning in Kano as APC’s Ganduje Makes First Post-Election Return Amid Broader Reconciliation Efforts

APC National Chairman Ganduje Makes First Return to Kano After Election Loss

In a significant turn of events, the former Governor of Kano State and current National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has returned to Kano for the first time since leaving office in May 2023.

This visit comes on the heels of the APC’s defeat in the Kano governorship election, where the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) candidate, Abba Kabir Yusuf, emerged victorious.

Post-Election Dynamics: APC’s Loss and Broader Reconciliation Efforts

Ganduje, who led the APC during the election, witnessed Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, his former deputy, being defeated by Yusuf.

The NNPP’s national leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, backed Yusuf, marking a significant political shift in the state.

The political landscape changed during the gubernatorial inauguration when Usman Alhaji, then Secretary to Kano State Government under Ganduje, handed over to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf while Ganduje was attending President Bola Tinubu’s inauguration in Abuja.

Crucial Meeting Aimed at Reconciliation Amid Party Discontent

An aide to the APC national chairman, preferring anonymity, confirmed Ganduje’s return to Kano, emphasizing that the visit is primarily for attending a crucial meeting.

The meeting is strategically aimed at reconciling aggrieved party members following the APC’s loss in the gubernatorial election.

Key stakeholders, including deputy governorship candidate Murtala Sule Garo, are reported to have accompanied Ganduje.

Supreme Court Verdict and Broader Reconciliation Initiatives

The initiative for reconciliation gains added significance after the Supreme Court verdict, which reversed the lower courts’ declaration of Gawuna as the validly elected governor of Kano.

Gawuna himself is currently absent, reportedly in Saudi Arabia, as Ganduje is expected to lead the reconciliation talks in his presence.

The visit is anticipated to set the stage for more extensive reconciliation efforts, allegedly brokered by President Tinubu, between Ganduje and Kwankwaso.

Ganduje’s stay in Kano until Friday signifies the importance of the discussions and the intricate dynamics at play in the post-election political landscape.

This visit is closely watched as it unfolds against the backdrop of broader efforts to mend internal party divisions and foster unity within the APC.