President Bola Tinubu is reportedly considering appointing Abdullahi Ganduje, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as an ambassador to an African country.
Ganduje, who became the APC national chairman on August 3, 2023, following Abdullahi Adamu’s resignation, is currently facing a corruption trial in Kano.
According to Daily Nigerian, President Tinubu initially asked Senate President Godswill Akpabio to inform Ganduje of the ambassadorial offer, which was intended to shield him from the ongoing corruption charges linked to a 2018 bribery scandal. Ganduje, along with his wife and son, is accused of involvement in a corruption scheme worth over N50 billion.
Ganduje reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the offer, claiming that the charges against him are false and that he expects to win his court cases. He questioned the president’s decision, saying, “Is this the way the president will reward my loyalty? Besides, I am too old to go for an ambassadorial posting. All the charges are tissues of lies, and I will win my case in court.”
Despite his initial reluctance, Tinubu later directly informed Ganduje of the diplomatic posting and offered him the choice of any country in Africa, although some sources indicate that he was given three options in Africa, Asia, and Europe. Tinubu’s preference is said to be Chad, where Ganduje previously served as the executive secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission from 2009 to 2011.
However, concerns were raised about whether any serious Asian or European country would accept Ganduje as an ambassador due to his corruption charges. Insiders suggest that Ganduje is trying to retain his position as APC chairman but might choose Morocco over Chad if forced to accept the ambassadorial role.
Following Tinubu’s communication, a letter dated August 9, signed by the president’s chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, was sent to Ganduje, notifying him of the president’s approval to convene the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and a mid-term non-elective national convention between September 8 and 19, 2024.
The letter also directed that the NEC meeting agenda include setting a date for the non-elective National Convention, which should take place before the end of 2024. Ganduje was asked to coordinate with the president’s office for any necessary updates or changes to the meeting schedule.
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