BENIN CITY, Nigeria — Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have described the resignation of Abdullahi Ganduje as the party’s national chairman as a strategic and deliberate step aimed at repositioning the ruling party ahead of future political milestones.
The governors made their position known in a communiqué issued on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at the end of a two-day strategic retreat of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) held in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
Reading the communiqué, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State and chairman of the PGF, said Ganduje’s resignation, which came into effect on Friday, June 27, 2025, is not a sign of discord but a reflection of internal reforms underway within the party.
“His Excellency, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s resignation is in tandem with the party’s continued evolution,” the statement reads.
“This meeting provided a crucial platform to harmonise development strategies, reinforce party cohesion, and reaffirm our forum’s dedication to people-centred development, institutional accountability, and inter-governmental collaboration.”
The APC had earlier confirmed Ganduje’s resignation through its national publicity secretary, Felix Morka, who cited “urgent and important personal matters” as the former Kano governor’s reason for stepping down.
A major highlight of the PGF meeting was the formal reception of Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno into the APC fold.
The governors praised his defection — and that of his supporters — as a strong endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s policies, describing it as a growing trend across the country.
The development is seen as a political gain for the APC in the South-South region, traditionally dominated by the opposition.
The forum also reviewed the political and economic landscape, expressing support for ongoing reforms by the federal government — including fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate unification, and debt restructuring.
While commending these measures, the governors called for expanded investment in social protection, job creation, and the empowerment of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
“Growth must be further democratised through expanded investments in food security, job creation, poverty eradication, MSMEs, and social safety nets,” the governors stated.
They also reaffirmed the PGF’s commitment to economic decentralisation, citing Section 13 of the 1999 Constitution as a legal basis for greater sub-national participation in economic planning and delivery.
The governors reported increased investor interest in APC-led states, citing a surge in both domestic and foreign direct investments as a result of enabling governance environments.
“Multiple APC-led states are now attracting significant domestic and foreign direct investments, which is a testament to the enabling environment being created,” the PGF noted.
