THE Deputy National Chairman (North) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Bukar Dalori, has emerged as its acting National Chairman, following the dramatic and sudden resignation of Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje on Friday evening, June 27, with immediate effect, pending the election of a substantive chairman at the national convention scheduled for December this year.
Section 14(2) of the APC Constitution (as amended) stipulates the duties of a Deputy National Chairman of the party, among which is to assist the National Chairman in the discharge of his duties, while Section 14(2)(iii) states that “the Deputy National Chairman shall act as the National Chairman in the absence of the National Chairman from his zone.”
Ganduje’s aides had earlier moved his personal belongings from his office at the national secretariat as it became clear that he was leaving the position.
The immediate past two-term governor of Kano State cited health reasons for his decision, saying he needed to focus on his well-being.
Ganduje’s tenure has been marked by unending controversy and challenges since his election in August 2023, following the ouster of his predecessor and former governor of Nasarawa State, Adamu Abdullahi, as a fallout of the party presidential primary election won by President Bola Tinubu.
Only recently, he was caught in yet another controversy when he announced the endorsement of Tinubu without mention of Vice President Kashim Shettima during a Northeast stakeholders meeting in Gombe.
He was escorted out of the rowdy venue by security aides.
Although Ganduje’s resignation letter cited health reasons, it was gathered that mounting political tension within the party and pressure for his ouster to restore order and harmony, after the boil over in Gombe, may have also contributed to his decision to resign.
His tenure was marred by suspension and court battles. In April last year, a Kano State High Court granted an ex parte order restraining him from parading himself as a member of the party, following a suit filed by some party executives.
He is also currently facing trial over alleged fraud brought against him by the Kano State Government.
In addition, he had faced allegations of financial impropriety, as some party members protested alleged “excessive financial demands” imposed by his office, with aspiring Federal Capital territory (FCT) Area Councils candidates complaining about alleged fee requirements for receiving the party’s ticket .
The ruling party was yet to issue an official statement on his resignation, but there were speculations that he may be succeeded by one of the party’s national vice chairmen in acting capacity.
There were rumours that his resignation was due to zoning agitations and a strategy to calm rising agitations among stakeholders from the North Central zone, who have consistently demanded the return of the party’s top office to the zone after Adamu’s resignation.
In that regard, a former governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Umar Tanko Almakura, was said to be top on the list of those likely to succeed Ganduje.
Dalori, a seasoned politician, astute businessman and grassroots mobiliser, was born on June 16, 1962, in Dalori town, Konduga Local Council of Borno State.
His political journey began in 1991 when he was elected councillor for Dalori Ward and by 1992, he had risen to become chairman of the council and was later re-elected under the Social Democratic Party (SDP) during the Gen. Ibrahim Babangida transition.
In 2012, Dalori was elected member of the Borno State House of Assembly under the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and was elected later as chairman of the APC in Borno State.
He was appointed chairman of the larty’s state chairmen in the country for three consecutive terms of nine years.
In August 2023, he was appointed deputy national chairman (North) of the party, overseeing its affairs in the 19 northern states.
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