…Says Former Chairman Lacked Focus and Credibility
By Saeed Ahmad Bappah, Gombe
A prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholder from Gombe State, Barrister (Alhaji) Abdullahi Jalo Castic, has shared his candid opinion regarding the recent exit of the party’s Former National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
Speaking during an interview with journalists, Barrister Jalo described Ganduje’s leadership of the APC as lacking direction and transparency, accusing him of dragging the party backward rather than promoting internal democracy and party discipline.
“Under Ganduje’s leadership, the APC lost control. There was no proper party politics, and internal accountability was absent. His tenure was marred by allegations of mismanagement and corruption,” Jalo said.
He further alleged that under Ganduje, the salaries of party staff at the APC National Headquarters were frequently diverted, despite the funds being released. “Party staff were often left unpaid. This is unacceptable and shows a deep flaw in leadership,” he stated.
Jalo also cited a recent incident during a party programme in Bwari, where he alleged that some party executives were openly bribed with token sums of ten to twenty thousand Naira, without any response from Ganduje to address or condemn the misconduct. “That brought shame to the party,” he said.
Referring to a political gathering in Gombe where the Northeast APC leadership endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term, Jalo accused Ganduje of causing unnecessary tension with divisive remarks.
“Instead of calming the atmosphere as an elder statesman and national party chairman, he stoked the fire by criticizing the zone for delivering ‘only’ 1.2 million votes in 2023. He disregarded the significance of every single vote and the political influence of the region,” he noted.
He further revealed that Ganduje was initially denied entry into the venue of the event due to tensions surrounding his visit.
“Although he was later allowed in, he was escorted out under tight security after the programme ended abruptly and failed to achieve its intended objectives,” Jalo explained.
Barrister Jalo concluded by asserting that any recent success recorded by the APC across the states was largely due to the commitment of grassroots politicians and the Nigerian electorate, not because of Ganduje’s leadership.
“Ganduje lost focus. He simply wandered through the role without a clear vision. His exit is a welcome development,” he added.