Former Governor of Kano State and immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has officially taken on a new national assignment as the Chairman of the Board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
This new role comes just weeks after his resignation as APC Chairman, citing health concerns.
Ganduje’s appointment was confirmed during the formal inauguration of newly reconstituted aviation agency boards in Abuja on Wednesday, led by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN).
The inauguration follows an earlier appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in January 2025, positioning Ganduje at the helm of one of the most strategic agencies in the nation’s aviation sector.
Ganduje’s recent political transition has sparked speculation, particularly surrounding reports that his resignation may have paved the way for Tinubu’s behind-the-scenes efforts to woo his long-time political rival, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, into the APC fold ahead of the 2027 general elections.
However, Buba Galadima, a chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and close ally of Kwankwaso, has refuted the claims.
Speaking on Arise News, Galadima dismissed reports that Ganduje’s exit was orchestrated to create room for Kwankwaso, describing such narratives as “purely speculative.”
He reaffirmed that Kwankwaso remains deeply rooted in the NNPP, despite overtures from the ruling APC and other parties, noting that his credibility and political weight are the primary reasons he continues to attract cross-party attention.
Meanwhile, with Ganduje officially assuming duties at FAAN, all eyes are now on how the seasoned politician will navigate the highly technical and sensitive aviation sector, especially at a time Nigeria is pursuing reforms and infrastructure upgrades across its airport systems.
