President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday received former All Progressives Congress National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, and former Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, in separate closed-door meetings at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
This is coming amid a wave of defections rocking the party in the North-West.
The visits came a day after former Kano State governor and New Nigeria People’s Party chieftain, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, formally defected to the African Democratic Congress, taking with him former deputy governor and 2023 APC governorship candidate in Kano, Nasiru Gawuna, former deputy governor Aminu Gwarzo, and scores of supporters.
Reports also indicated that several state lawmakers were weighing plans to follow Kwankwaso to the ADC.
PUNCH correspondent spotted Ganduje, dressed in a green babanriga, leaving the State House at approximately 4:15 pm.
Badaru followed about 15 minutes later at 4:30 pm.
Both men declined to speak with journalists on the purpose of their visits.
The staggered exits suggested the two men held individual consultations with the President rather than a joint meeting.
Analysts believed the visits may be linked to ongoing party reorganisation following the APC’s 4th Elective National Convention held on March 27, 2026, at Eagle Square, Abuja, where Prof Nentawe Yilwatda was formally elected national chairman, a position Ganduje had held from August 2023 until his resignation in July 2025.
There are also concerns within party circles that some chieftains loyal to Badaru may be heading to the ADC in Jigawa State, following a simmering crisis with Governor Umar Namadi.
Badaru had governed Jigawa State from 2015 to 2023 before serving as defence minister in Tinubu’s cabinet until his recent resignation.
Earlier on Tuesday, Ganduje had accompanied Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin to the House of Representatives, where eight NNPP members of the House defected to the APC.
Speaking to journalists after the event, Ganduje dismissed the significance of Kwankwaso’s defection, insisting the APC would emerge victorious in 2027.
He also assured that Kano State would deliver votes for both President Tinubu and Governor Yusuf in the next general election.
