Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has revealed the party’s strategy to enhance its influence in key states and regions across Nigeria. Speaking to the Kano Correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ganduje outlined the APC’s plans to tackle opposition parties in Edo and Anambra states, while also targeting the South East region.
Ganduje introduced the APC’s new initiative, the Progressive Institute, which aims to address and propose solutions for pressing national issues. He explained that this intellectual wing is designed to analyze problems and offer actionable recommendations to the government.
“We established what we called an intellectual wing for the party, the Progressive Institute,” Ganduje said. “It is meant to analyze national issues so that the members can bring these issues to the attention of the government and set the agenda for action.”
He highlighted the institute’s role in organizing national conferences, such as the one focused on livestock reforms following clashes between farmers and herders. Ganduje noted that the institute’s efforts led to the creation of a new Ministry of Livestock, which will be inaugurated soon.
Ganduje also addressed the issue of rising youth unemployment. He announced plans for a national conference aimed at reforming educational curricula to produce more employable graduates. “We will look into modernizing or reforming our national curriculum, including university courses, to ensure that the graduates we produce are employable,” he said.
On the political front, Ganduje expressed confidence in the APC’s ability to regain control in Edo and Anambra states and to make inroads into the South East.
Ganduje expressed optimism about the party’s prospects in the upcoming governorship election in Edo State, scheduled for September 21, 2024. He pointed out that the state was previously under APC control but was lost to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) due to internal issues. “Our campaign is spirited, and we believe we can recover Edo State for APC,” Ganduje said.
Regarding Ondo State, Ganduje mentioned that it is currently an APC stronghold. Despite challenges following the death of the former governor, the party resolved issues through successful primaries and is prepared for the November elections. “We are getting ready for that election. If we win Edo, we will increase our states from 20 to 21 out of the 36 states,” Ganduje added.
Looking ahead to 2025, Ganduje targeted Anambra State, which has been governed by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for many years. He criticised the South East’s political fragmentation, stating that it has led to marginalisation. “We are working hard to gain more states in the South East, starting with Anambra. If we succeed, we will capture all the states in the region,” he said.
Ganduje also touched on plans for internal reforms within the APC. He hinted at the introduction of e-registration for party members and a push for greater internal democracy. “We want to change the narrative of the party from being active only during election years to being engaged all year round,” Ganduje explained.
