Governors elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC) have declared that the recent resignation of Abdullahi Ganduje as the party’s national chairman is a deliberate and strategic repositioning, rather than an indication of internal discord.
The APC officially confirmed Ganduje’s departure, with Felix Morka, the party’s national publicity secretary, stating it was to allow the former Kano governor to address “urgent and important personal matters.”
Following a two-day strategy meeting of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) in Benin City, the governors released a communiqué on Saturday asserting that the leadership change aligns with the party’s ongoing internal reforms and efforts to bolster its strength.
Hope Uzodimma, Governor of Imo State and Chairman of the PGF, emphasized that Ganduje’s resignation reflects the APC’s commitment to continuous evolution and adaptive governance. “His Excellency, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s resignation is in tandem with the party’s continued evolution,” the communiqué read.
The meeting, according to the governors, served as a vital platform to harmonize development strategies, reinforce party cohesion, and reaffirm their dedication to people-centered development, institutional accountability, and inter-governmental collaboration.
The PGF reiterated its stance that the APC remains Nigeria’s most structured political platform, citing its history of reforms, electoral triumphs and extensive national reach as proof of its robustness.
A key highlight of the gathering was the formal reception of Umo Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, into the APC fold. The governors hailed his defection, alongside his supporters, as evidence of growing support for President Bola Tinubu’s policies.
The forum also conducted a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s political, economic and security landscape, expressing satisfaction with what they described as improved coordination between the federal and state governments.
Commending the federal government’s fiscal reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy, exchange rate unification and debt restructuring, the governors called for increased and more inclusive investment in social protection and economic equity. They stressed that “Growth must be further democratised through expanded investments in food security, job creation, poverty eradication, MSMEs and social safety nets.”
Furthermore, the PGF reaffirmed its support for economic decentralization, in line with Section 13 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), highlighting the crucial role of sub-national governments in driving national development. The forum also noted a growing investor confidence in APC-led states, evidenced by increased domestic and foreign direct investments across several states.
“Multiple APC-led states are now attracting significant domestic and foreign direct investments, which is a testament to the enabling environment being created,” the PGF concluded.
