Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and ex-Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, has returned to Nigeria from London and is set to proceed to Kano on Monday for major political engagements as fresh realignments unfold in the state.
Ganduje arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 5:30 am on Monday aboard a British Airways flight. His return marks the end of a short overseas trip during which he attended the graduation ceremony of his daughter, Fatima Ganduje, at King’s College, London.
Fatima graduated with a Master’s degree from the prestigious institution on Thursday. She is married to Idris Ajimobi, son of the late former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, further strengthening political ties between the two prominent political families.
Confirming Ganduje’s return, his Chief of Staff, Muhammad Garba, said the former APC national chairman would immediately resume party activities, with Kano as his first stop.
“He has returned to the country this morning and will proceed to Kano later today to take part in important political engagements,” Garba said in a statement issued on Monday.
According to him, Ganduje is expected to play an active role in the APC’s electronic registration of members in Kano State, a programme introduced during his tenure as the party’s national chairman. The exercise is seen as part of efforts to strengthen the party’s grassroots structure ahead of future elections.
Garba also revealed that Ganduje would be deeply involved in activities surrounding the planned reception of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, into the APC. Yusuf, who won the 2023 governorship election on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), is widely believed to be finalising plans to defect to the ruling party.
The anticipated defection has generated strong political interest across Kano, with APC stakeholders closely watching developments and weighing the possible impact on the state’s political balance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Analysts say Ganduje’s presence in Kano at this time is strategic, given his influence within the APC and his long-standing role in the state’s political landscape. His involvement is expected to shape negotiations, party consolidation, and alignment of key political actors as Kano gradually becomes a major battleground in the build-up to 2027.
With the APC pushing to expand its base and consolidate power in the North-West, Ganduje’s return signals renewed political activity that could redefine party dynamics in Kano in the coming months.
