As Nigeria’s political compass tilts once again in the direction of realignment, Kano State long regarded as the heart of Northern politics is drawing renewed national attention. At the center of this quiet but consequential reshuffling is the former New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) Presidential Candidate in the 2023 elections, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who is reportedly making aggressive moves to return to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
But amidst the unfolding drama, a critical oversight is surfacing, the strategic neglect of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, former Governor of Kano State and immediate past National Chairman of the APC. Political narratives being pushed by some actors are downplaying Ganduje’s relevance. Yet, nothing could be further from the truth particularly in a state as politically layered and complex as Kano.
Dr. Ganduje is not a product of sudden influence or short-lived popularity. His journey spans over four decades in civil service and public administration. A trained technocrat with advanced knowledge in public administration and planning, he rose steadily through the bureaucracy before venturing into mainstream politics. He served as Commissioner, Deputy Governor, and ultimately two-term Governor of Kano State, each role marked by a legacy of quiet but strategic governance.
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What separates Ganduje from many of today’s political actors is his administrative depth. His background in civil service shaped his leadership style, pragmatic, detailed, and policy-focused. His ability to blend bureaucratic understanding with grassroots politics earned him respect across several layers of governance.
During his tenure as governor, he tackled infrastructural gaps, introduced policy reforms in health and education, among others. One of his far-sighted interventions remains his proactive approach to the herders-farmers crisis, long before it became a federal priority. Ganduje launched a grazing reserve project in Dansoshiya Forest and sent 60 Fulani youths to Turkey to study artificial insemination, aiming to modernize livestock breeding in Northern Nigeria. His initiatives and policy papers in this direction helped shape the foundation for the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a ministry that is set to transform the livestock value chain and elevate the economic base of herders across Nigeria.
His brief but eventful leadership of the APC at the national level was a continuation, not a climax of his political journey. He helped manage internal party tensions, stabilized post-election structures, and coordinated seamlessly with the presidency. His leadership may have concluded formally, but the political influence, networks, and credibility he cultivated remain very much intact.
Those who mistake his exit from the national party chairmanship as a loss of relevance are missing the broader picture. Ganduje has simply returned to a more calculated position, one that allows him to focus on local and regional dynamics without abandoning his national influence.
In Kano, anyone who has governed for eight years leaves behind not just a legacy but a loyal structure. Ganduje’s political machinery remains deeply rooted in ward, local government, and state-level institutions. From lawmakers to traditional leaders, many who rose during his administration still owe him allegiance.
What some in Abuja fail to understand is that Kano is not a one-man show. It is a multi-bloc political environment. Each bloc whether Kwankwasiyya, Gandujiyya, or others holds sway over a different segment of the electorate. Ignoring one in favor of the other risks destabilizing the delicate balance that keeps the APC competitive in Northern Nigeria’s most populous state.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a grandmaster of political calculations, must tread carefully. Elevating Senator Kwankwaso’s bloc at the expense of Ganduje’s will not unite Kano, it will fracture it further. The notion that Ganduje has lost grip is largely a narrative pushed by his rivals, many of whom are motivated by their own ambitions rather than party cohesion.
Rather than sideline him, the presidency and party stakeholders should re-engage Ganduje as a tested strategist and reliable northern political force. His contributions to APC’s national stability, his civil service experience, and his loyal base in Kano make him a vital part of any lasting political arrangement.
In truth, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje remains a man with unmatched political stamina deeply experienced, quietly calculating, and still commanding influence where it matters most. His relevance is not just in the past it is embedded in the very dynamics of the present and future political landscape of Northern Nigeria.
Umar Idris Shuaibu is a journalist and writes from Kano.
