APC suspends Abdullahi Ganduje over alleged bribery, looting
In a dramatic turn of events, Abdullah Ganduje, the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s national chairman, has been suspended by executive members of his ward.
At a news conference on Monday, Haruna Gwanjo, the head of Ganduja Ward in Kano State’s Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area, declared the former governor’s suspension.
According to Mr. Gwanjo, Mr. Ganduje was put on leave so that the former governor of Kano State could clear his record over corruption charges.
He said, “We the leaders of the APC in Ganduje ward, Dawakin Tofa Local Government, engaged in thorough deliberations and subsequently decided to suspend the erstwhile Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, in light of the allegations of bribery involving foreign currency.
“It has come to our attention that Ganduje has been summoned to court to answer for these accusations, a development that we believe could potentially besmirch the reputation of our esteemed political party.
“Because of this we have reached a resolution to pass a vote of no confidence on Ganduje and to collectively on behalf of all executive members of the APC in Ganduje ward, Dawakin Tofa suspend him, until he clear and that of his family at the court.”
At least eight criminal accusations were brought by Governor Abba Yusuf’s government against Mr. Ganduje, the head of the ruling APC and his predecessor, for allegedly stealing N5.6 billion from Kano’s treasury and accepting bribes from public works contractors totalling nearly half a million dollars.
After his governorship ends in May 2023, Mr. Ganduje will no longer be protected from prosecution due to the loss of immunity. At the Kano High Court, 15 witnesses have already agreed to testify against him on corruption-related accusations.
Recall that In 2018, a number of recordings released by Daily Nigerian featured Mr. Ganduje grinning broadly while concealing large amounts of US dollar cash in his babanriga, a long, flowing, traditional robe adorned with embroidery that is typically worn by men in the north. This triggered the call for his probe since he left office in 2023.
