Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has officially welcomed Senator Shehu Sani and 49 other political heavyweights into the All Progressives Congress (APC), assuring them of equal rights and privileges within the party.
Speaking at a mega rally held at Murtala Square on Saturday, Governor Sani emphasized that new members would not be treated differently from those who had been with the APC since its inception.
“Someone who joined APC today and the one who has been a foundation member 10 years ago, they are of the same status. They will enjoy the same rights and privileges,” the governor stated, in what some interpreted as a veiled dig at his predecessor, Nasir El-Rufai.
Sources indicate that Shehu Sani’s decision to join the APC could be a strategic move to align with Governor Uba Sani in opposition to El-Rufai, with whom he has had a long-standing political rivalry.
Governor Sani urged the new members to mobilize their supporters, reaffirming that the APC remains open to more defectors. He attributed the party’s growing influence to its just leadership at both state and federal levels.
“The popularity and acceptability of APC is because of its just leadership at both the state and federal levels,” he said, adding that the party was firmly rooted in Kaduna, the North, and Nigeria as a whole.
Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, the governor expressed confidence in APC’s dominance across all levels.
“In the 2027 election, the electorate will vote for APC in all the elections, from top to bottom. At the top, our leader, President Bola Tinubu, will be elected. At the state level, the party will be voted for at the gubernatorial, National, and State Assemblies elections, by the grace of God,” he declared.
Governor Sani also pledged to execute developmental projects across the state, regardless of political or ethnic affiliations.
“Politics is different from governance. We will be fair to all, whether or not they voted for us, because that is the oath of office that we swore to uphold as leaders,” he assured.
Acknowledging that leaders are not infallible, he urged citizens to hold them accountable and provide constructive criticism.
Among the notable politicians who defected to the APC were: Former Kaduna Governor, Alhaji Muktar Ramalan-Yero , Senator Shehu Sani, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, 2023 NNPP gubernatorial candidate, Alhaji Sani Sha’aban, Former Senator representing Zone Three, Danjuma Laah (PDP),
Former PDP National Organizing Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha, Former Nigerian Envoy to South Korea, Ambassador Sule Buba.
With this wave of defections, the APC further consolidates its grip on Kaduna politics ahead of the next election cycle.
