Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has fired back at a chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Buba Galadima, for accusing him of disrespecting the late President Muhammadu Buhari when he was at the helm.

Ganduje, speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Enlightenment, Chief Oliver Okpala, described Galadima as a “television politician” with no political base or followership.

Ganduje noted that Galadima’s recent comments were baseless, mischievous and aimed at drawing media attention rather than contributing meaningfully to national discourse.

In a statement personally signed by Okpala and made available to journalists in Abuja, Ganduje urged Galadima to return to his home state of Yobe and focus on economic and political development instead of “using television stations as his political constituency.”

Ganduje noted that many of Galadima’s contemporaries have risen to positions of honour and attained the status of elder statesmen, while Galadima has chosen what he described as a directionless media-driven political existence.

The former APC chairman was reacting to Galadima’s recent allegation that Ganduje insulted and disrespected former President Muhammadu Buhari—an accusation Ganduje categorically denied.

Ganduje stressed that he is known for political decorum, discipline, and respect for leaders, both past and present, insisting that he would not resort to abusive or disparaging language as claimed.

He also dismissed claims that he was disgraced or prevented from installing a successor in Kano State in 2023, stating that he successfully completed two terms as governor and left behind a legacy of development across key sectors of the state.

Ganduje further rejected allegations that he mobilised security agencies to manipulate the 2023 elections, describing them as false and unfounded, while reaffirming his commitment to democratic principles.

He accused Galadima of consistently peddling negative narratives and showing disrespect to national leaders, adding that such conduct has eroded his credibility over the years.

Ganduje thereby called on political elders to embrace maturity and responsibility, urging them to help bequeath to younger generations a political environment anchored on peace, unity and integrity.