Abdullah Ganduje, the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s national chairman, has been suspended by executive members of his ward.

Haruna Gwanjo, leader of Ganduja Ward in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State, announced the former governor’s suspension in a press briefing on Monday.

Mr Gwanjo said Mr Ganduje was suspended for the former Kano State governor to clear his name in allegations of corruption.

Last week, Peoples Gazette reported that Governor Abba Yusuf’s administration filed at least eight criminal charges against Mr Ganduje, his predecessor and chair of the ruling APC, for allegedly stealing N5.6 billion from Kano’s coffers and taking bribes from public works contractors totalling almost half a million dollars.

Stripped of immunity following the expiration of his governorship tenure in May 2023, Mr Ganduje is left vulnerable to answer the corruption charges against him, which already has 15 witnesses willing to testify against him at the Kano High Court.

In 2018, a series of videos published by Daily Nigerian showed Mr Ganduje flashing a broad smile as he stashed wads of American dollars in his babanriga, a long, flowing, traditional embroidered robe commonly worn by men in the northern region. The outfit is known to have deep, large pockets.

Before now, Adams Oshimhole, former APC chair, was likewise suspended by his ward. Mr Oshimhole’s suspension marked the end of his leadership of the ruling party after legal battles.