By News Desk
Mr. Ganduje was appointed as the national chairman of the ruling party on August 3, 2023, following the forced resignation of former Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Adamu.
The DAILY NIGERIAN newspaper broke the news of Mr. Ganduje’s resignation on Friday, citing pressure from the North Central region as one of the reasons for the sudden end of the party’s leadership.
However, sources familiar with the matter said that the party leader, Bola Tinubu, had asked the party chairman to resign following a report by the State Security Service (SSS) alleging corruption against him.
Our source explained that the scandal that has broken Governor Ganduje’s back is the conduct of the FCT primary elections, especially in Bwari Local Government Area, where there were allegations of rigging in the primary elections.
A security source who preferred to remain anonymous told DAILY NIGERIAN that the President had ordered the SSS to investigate the alleged bribery of ticket holders, following allegations of rigging and corruption that plagued the primary elections.
DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that after submitting the report, the President summoned the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political Affairs, Ibrahim Masari, and directed them to advise Ganduje to resign with dignity.
The two men, according to the source, later met Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, to convey the President’s message.
This news left Mr. Ganduje in a state of shock, as he had not heeded the President’s advice on Thursday night. He therefore made a desperate attempt to see the President and plead with him to allow him to lead the party to the national convention scheduled for December 2025.
On Friday morning, the source said that Mr. Ganduje continued to hold his position, further abusing the position, until the Director-General of the State Security Service, Adeola Ajayi, met with him.
Facing the expected consequences of being forced out of office to face corruption charges, Mr. Ganduje surrendered and tendered his resignation, citing “ill health as the reason.”
