President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday received in audience former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, and former Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, in separate meetings at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting came a day after the former governor of Kano State and New Nigeria People’s Party chieftain, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, defected to the African Democratic Congress.
Also defected alongside Kwankwaso were former deputy governor and 2023 governorship candidate of the APC in Kano, Nasiru Gawuna; former deputy governor of Kano State, Aminu Gwarzo, and a host of supporters.
There were reports that some lawmakers from the state were planning to join Kwankwaso in the ADC.
Our correspondent spotted Ganduje, dressed in a green ‘Babanriga’, leaving the State House at approximately 4:15 pm, while Badaru departed about 15 minutes later at 4:30 pm.
Both men declined to speak with journalists about the purpose of their visits.
Ganduje served as APC national chairman from August 2023 until July 2025, when he resigned from the position.
He was succeeded by Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, who was formally elected as substantive national chairman at the party’s 4th Elective National Convention held on March 27, 2026, at Eagle Square, Abuja.
Prior to his role as party chairman, Ganduje served as Kano State governor from 2015 to 2023.
Badaru, a former governor of Jigawa State (2015-2023), served as defence minister in Tinubu’s cabinet before his recent resignation from the position.
The separate timing of their exits suggested the meetings were individual consultations rather than a joint session with the President.
The visits may be connected to ongoing party reorganisation following the recent APC national convention and defection surge in Kano and Jigawa states.
It was reported that some chieftains of the party loyal to Badaru may be heading to the ADC in Jigawa State, following the crisis with Governor Umar Namadi.
Earlier on Tuesday, Ganduje had accompanied Governor Abba Yusuf and Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, to the House of Representatives to witness the defection of eight NNPP members of the House to the APC.
Speaking to newsmen after the event, Ganduje assured that Kano will deliver President Tinubu and Governor Yusuf in the 2027 elections.
He played down the defection of Kwankwaso to the ADC and assured that the party would be victorious in 2027.
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