2027 Senate Race Heats Up As Shehu Sani Enters Kaduna Central Contest

He made the announcement via his verified handle, confirming that he has obtained the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms of the All Progressives Congress.

Sani previously represented Kaduna Central from 2015 to 2019 but lost his re-election bid following a political fallout with then-Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

The disagreement stemmed from policy clashes, including urban renewal projects, the dismissal of teachers, and concerns over the state’s debt profile.

Tensions escalated further when Sani, as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, opposed a $350 million World Bank loan request by the Kaduna State Government, warning it could overburden future generations with debt.

His position drew strong criticism from El-Rufai, who publicly attacked Sani and other lawmakers who resisted the loan proposal.

During the 2019 APC primaries, Sani was initially given an automatic ticket by the party’s national leadership, but the state chapter led by El-Rufai rejected it and conducted a parallel primary that produced Uba Sani, who is now the sitting governor.

Following the dispute, Shehu Sani left the APC for the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), where he unsuccessfully contested the senatorial election.

He has since returned to the APC and is now seeking a political comeback to the National Assembly in 2027.