Tinubu Holds Urgent Meeting with Ganduje, Badaru as Defections Hit APC

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday night held separate meetings with key figures in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje and former Defence Minister Badaru Abubakar, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The meetings come at a tense moment for the ruling party, following a wave of high-profile defections in Kano and growing political uncertainty in parts of the North.

The President’s engagements with the two political heavyweights took place behind closed doors. Although details of the discussions were not made public, the timing has raised strong indications that the talks are linked to current defections within the APC.

The development followed closely after a major political shift in Kano, where former governor and prominent New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) figure, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, officially moved to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

His defection has triggered fresh concerns within the APC, especially as several of his loyalists also dumped their former platforms to join him.

Among those who reportedly followed Kwankwaso are Nasiru Gawuna, the APC’s 2023 governorship candidate in Kano, alongside former deputy governor Aminu Gwarzo and other political associates.

There are also growing speculations that some lawmakers from the state may soon align with the ADC, further deepening the political shift in the region.

At the Presidential Villa, Ganduje was seen leaving the premises around 4:15 pm, dressed in a traditional green Babanriga. About 15 minutes later, Badaru also exited the Villa. Both men avoided journalists and declined to comment on the purpose of their visits, fueling further speculation about the urgency of the meetings.

Ganduje, who previously served as APC National Chairman from August 2023 until his resignation in July 2025, remains a key figure in the party’s northern political structure. His exit from the chairmanship paved the way for Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, who was elected as the party’s substantive chairman during the APC’s 4th National Convention held in Abuja in March 2026.

Before his role at the national level, Ganduje governed Kano State for eight years, from 2015 to 2023. His influence in Kano politics is still significant, especially at a time when the state is witnessing intense political movements and party switching.

Badaru, on the other hand, served as governor of Jigawa State between 2015 and 2023 before joining Tinubu’s cabinet as Minister of Defence. His recent resignation from the ministerial position has also sparked political conversations, particularly within Jigawa, where party dynamics appear to be shifting.

Sources within the party suggest that tensions in Jigawa may not be unconnected to disagreements between Badaru’s loyalists and the current state leadership under Governor Umar Namadi. There are reports that some APC stakeholders in the state are considering a move to the ADC, mirroring the developments in Kano.

Earlier in the day, Ganduje had appeared publicly alongside Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin at the House of Representatives. The trio witnessed the defection of eight members of the NNPP in the lower chamber to the APC, a move seen as a counter-effort to stabilise the party’s position in Kano.

Speaking after that event, Ganduje expressed confidence in the APC’s chances ahead of the 2027 general elections. He downplayed the significance of Kwankwaso’s defection, insisting that the ruling party remains strong and capable of securing victory in the next electoral cycle.

He also assured supporters that Kano would deliver for President Tinubu and the APC, despite the recent political shifts.