By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
CIRCULATING CLAIMS that Senator George Akume has vacated his position as Secretary to the Government of the Federation have been strongly debunked by the Nigerian Presidency, which on Saturday night reaffirmed that no such change has occurred.
Speculation surged following the resignation of former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
While Ganduje stepped down on Friday, 27 June 2025, his exit has triggered a wave of unverified reports suggesting a broader reshuffle in President Bola Tinubu’s inner circle, claims the Presidency has firmly denied.
According to presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, the status of Akume remains unchanged. “President Bola A. Tinubu, currently in Saint Lucia, has not made any new appointments,” he clarified, urging the public to disregard the misinformation being spread. The statement directly attributed the false reports to “agents of mischief.”
The Presidency’s clarification comes amid ongoing speculation within the APC, where Ganduje’s resignation has stirred debate over internal power dynamics and adherence to the party’s zoning principles.
Though the official reason given by party spokesman Felix Morka cited “urgent and important personal matters,” many party insiders link Ganduje’s decision to mounting pressure from stakeholders opposed to his initial appointment in August 2023, which they argue violated the APC’s North-Central rotation expectations.
Dalori As Acting National Chairman
In Ganduje’s place, Deputy National Chairman (North), Ali Bukar Dalori, from the North-East, has taken over as Acting National Chairman.
His appointment remains interim, pending a formal meeting of the APC National Executive Committee to determine a permanent successor.
Ganduje, who served as Kano State Governor between 2015 and 2023, was later appointed by President Tinubu in January 2025 to chair the board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
However, his replacement at the party’s helm is said to reopen critical discourse on regional representation within the APC’s top leadership ranks, though the Presidency remains clear: the SGF portfolio held by George Akume has not been affected.
