President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has held separate closed-door meetings with former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and former Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Badaru, who also served as governor of Jigawa State, has recently been at odds with Governor Badaru over the organizational structure of the APC in Jigawa. This dispute reportedly led to the rejection of Badaru’s nominee, Bashir Gumel, for the position of APC National Financial Secretary, with Governor Namadi nominating an alternative candidate. Speculation had arisen that Badaru might defect to the ADC, but he has denied any such plans.

Ganduje, the former APC National Chairman, is expected to remain in the party and has no plans to join the ADC coalition. He is also anticipated to play a key role in selecting the next deputy governor of Kano State following Aminu Gwarzo’s resignation. Sources indicate Ganduje favors Murtala Sule Garo for the position, though the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Jibrin Fagore, is also reportedly interested.