On Monday night, the ruling All Progressives Congress again accused Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party of intentionally trying to diminish the political importance of its National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, before the upcoming election in Kano State.
The National Legal Adviser of the APC, Prof Abdulkareem Kana, revealed this information during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
Ganduje and Kwankwaso, both former Kano governors, used to be allies before separating due to political differences in the state a few years ago.
Kana asserted that they have evidence showing that the leadership of the NNPP and its members in Kano state were supporting protests to oust him as the national chairman of the APC.
The lawyer also acknowledged on the live program that it was a display of power aimed at making Ganduje less significant before the next election in the state.
He mentioned, “I am not from Kano. However, I have heard analysis from prominent politicians who believe there is a conflict between Kwankwaso and Ganduje. It is an attempt to create issues within our party. I have heard my chairman speak on this matter and I will trust his analysis that the objective is to reduce his influence leading up to the next election in the state. It could also affect his power, which is growing in Kano.
“But what caused the apparent breakdown in the relationship between him and Kwankwaso, I really do not know. These are two politicians who have a long history. So, I believe this is purely politics at play and at some point, they may likely reach a common ground to resolve the issue.
“The people who falsely claimed to be members of our party are not actually part of our party. Within that community, they are known to be NNPP members. The NNPP is trying to undermine us but they cannot disrupt our party.
“Having worked with Ganduje for a month, I have come to see him as a father. He is a very responsible leader from what I have learned from him and he makes efforts to include everyone in his activities. He is a very experienced administrator and we are seeing the quality of his service in the party.”
When contacted, the National Publicity Secretary of NNPP, Ladipo Johnson, called the APC a confused party with a delusional leader.
He stated, “Typically, the NNPP prefers not to engage or respond to everything Ganduje and the APC say. The Kwankwaso he mentioned has nothing to do with his troubles, which he caused himself.
“We are referring to a man who is in a conflict with the party officials of his ward and who is not brave enough to go to court to face the charges against him.”
The plan to remove the troubled national chairman from his position gained momentum in the past month.
It peaked two weeks later when numerous demonstrators gathered at the APC headquarters in Abuja demanding his resignation and the return of the party leadership seat to the North Central zone, previously held by Abdullahi Adamu.
The demonstrators based their demand on the recent temporary removal of Ganduje by a group of his local leaders and the accusation of bribery against him by the Kano State government.
