Ganduje Rejects Defection Claims, Insists He Remains An APC Loyalist
Fresh political intrigue has trailed former All Progressives Congress National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, following his firm rebuttal of viral posters claiming he had abandoned the ruling party for the New Democratic Congress. The former Kano State governor pushed back on Friday, describing himself in colourful terms as a steadfast party man rather than a “nomadic politician” or a vulture “flying from one tree to another” in search of personal gain.
The clarification came through a statement issued in Abuja by his former Commissioner for Information and one time Chief of Staff, Muhammad Garba, who dismissed the circulating materials as false, mischievous and politically motivated. According to the statement, the images spreading across social media were the product of a deliberate misinformation campaign crafted to mislead the public, sow confusion among APC faithful and stir needless speculation.
Ganduje, the statement stressed, has never contemplated leaving the party he once led. “It is not only false but also illogical for anyone to insinuate that Ganduje has joined the NDC; such a claim lacks both political and logical foundation,” it read. He went further to reaffirm that the APC “remains Nigeria’s largest and most formidable political party,” insisting that it continues to enjoy growing acceptance nationwide and is consolidating its hold under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu.
Beyond the denial, the former chairman signalled a readiness to fight back. The statement disclosed that those behind the production and circulation of the posters had been identified, warning that legal action would follow unless the offending materials were withdrawn immediately and their spread halted. Party members, supporters and the general public were urged to disregard the posters entirely and to rely only on official channels for information about his political activities.
The episode is best understood against the backdrop of Ganduje’s recent political journey. He assumed the APC national chairmanship on 3 August 2023, stepping in after the exit of Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and steered the party machinery through the early years of the Tinubu administration. On 27 June 2025, however, he resigned the position, citing health reasons, in a move that many within the party and among observers considered abrupt. That departure set off a wave of speculation about his next steps that has refused to die down.
This is not the first time such rumours have surfaced. In September 2025, barely months after his resignation, talk of a possible switch to the African Democratic Congress gained traction, prompting his camp to issue a similar denial and to restate his loyalty to Tinubu and the Renewed Hope Agenda. The recurrence of these claims points to a pattern that has become familiar in the countdown to the 2027 general elections, a period in which cross party movements, realignments and denials have dominated the political conversation.
The timing is also notable because the NDC itself has featured prominently in recent national debate. The party has been among the loudest voices demanding accountability over the controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Fiscal Intervention and Projects Committee, a matter that has drawn responses from figures across the opposition, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his African Democratic Congress. Against that charged atmosphere, any suggestion that a former ruling party chairman had crossed into an opposition platform was always likely to attract attention.
For now, Ganduje’s position appears unambiguous. The statement reaffirmed his commitment to working with Tinubu and the APC leadership to consolidate the gains of the Renewed Hope Agenda and to strengthen the party ahead of future contests. Whether the denial finally settles the recurring questions about his loyalty, or merely pauses them until the next round of speculation, is a matter the unfolding pre election season is likely to answer.
What remains clear is that Nigeria’s political space is entering a familiar and restless phase. As parties jostle for advantage and prominent figures weigh their options ahead of 2027, the line between genuine defection and manufactured rumour is set to blur further, placing established politicians like Ganduje under constant watch.