Malam Muhammed Garba, Chief of Staff to former Kano State governor Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has debunked claims of a fallout between his principal and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stressing that Ganduje’s June 2025 resignation as national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was entirely voluntary.
In an exclusive interview, Garba stated that Ganduje stepped down after fulfilling “almost 90%” of the assignments given to him by the president, noting that the decision was taken after consultation and mutual understanding.
“There is nothing like a cold war between Dr Ganduje and President Tinubu,” Garba said. “He consulted the president before resigning, and his decision was accepted in good faith. They remain in constant touch and are the best of friends.”
Garba revealed that Ganduje departed for London five days after his resignation to rest and attend to minor health concerns following months of intense political activity. His absence during President Tinubu’s condolence visit to the family of the late Aminu Dantata, as well as during the vice president’s visit and the Kaduna summit, was due to this overseas trip.
He further disclosed that the recent APC stakeholders’ meeting in Kano was hosted at Ganduje’s residence, where party leaders without prior notice reaffirmed him as the state’s party leader. Garba described this as evidence of Ganduje’s enduring influence in the party and his capacity to lead the APC to victory in 2027.
On Ganduje’s political comeback, Garba said: “Of course he is. I was with him in London a few days ago, and I can assure you that he has had enough rest. All things being equal, we expect him back in the country in a couple of days.”
