President Bola Tinubu has begun a major restructuring of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC), a move that could see Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, former Kano State governor, and Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State rejoin the party.
Sources within the APC revealed that Tinubu’s recent appointment of the party’s national chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, as board chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), is part of the president’s strategy to overhaul the APC NWC.
“Most of the APC NWC leaders are going, and Tinubu is preparing for change. The NEC meeting is likely to be held soon. The chairmanship will go to North-Central, but no one knows the state in North-Central. Before any NEC meeting is held, the president will finish with the appointment first,” *The Whistler* quoted a source as saying.
The restructuring is expected to create opportunities for Kwankwaso, whose return to the APC was previously blocked by Ganduje due to their political rivalry. With Ganduje’s likely exit, Kwankwaso’s path back to the party appears clear.
“You know before now, it was Ganduje that blocked him, but with this appointment now, the moment he (Ganduje) leaves the chairmanship of the party, Kwankwaso will come if he’s still interested. The problem has been Ganduje; as long as he remains the chairman, Kwankwaso won’t want to come back,” the source added.
Kwankwaso’s camp has reportedly welcomed this development, as it aligns with their long-standing desire for Ganduje’s exit. “Kwankwaso and his supporters would welcome Ganduje’s departure from the APC leadership, as it would create an opportunity for us to step in. The main obstacle has been Ganduje, and once he is out, things could change,” the source explained.
Governor Ademola Adeleke is also reported to be in talks to rejoin the APC. However, his return has faced stiff resistance from APC leaders in Osun State, who are reluctant to welcome him back into the fold.
“In some states, PDP members are looking to defect to the APC. Take Osun State, for example; its governor is interested in joining the APC, but the APC leadership in the state strongly opposes it. It’s become a serious problem there, with party leaders insisting that he should remain where he is,” another source disclosed.
Key figures involved in reconciliation efforts to ease tensions and pave the way for Kwankwaso and Adeleke’s return include Murtala Sule Garo, Baffa Babba DanAgundi, and Abdulmuminu Jibrin Kofa.
The restructuring and anticipated defections are seen as part of Tinubu’s broader strategy to consolidate power within the APC and position the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
