President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday held separate closed-door meetings at Aso Villa with former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and former Minister of Defence Badaru Abubakar.

Details of the discussions have not yet been disclosed.

Badaru, who previously served as governor of Jigawa State, has been locked in a political dispute with Governor Umar Namadi over control of the All Progressives Congress (APC) structure in the state.

The disagreement reportedly resulted in the removal of Badaru’s nominee, Bashir Gumel, as APC National Financial Secretary, with Governor Namadi backing a different candidate for the position.

There have also been speculations that Badaru may defect to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), although he has publicly denied any intention to leave the APC.

Meanwhile, Ganduje is expected to remain within the APC, with no indication that he plans to join the ADC coalition.

In Kano State, Ganduje is also believed to be influential in the selection of the next deputy governor following the resignation of Aminu Gwarzo. His preferred candidate is reportedly Murtala Garo, though the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Jibrin Fagge, is also said to be interested in the position.