I’m Here To Fight For APC, Not El-Rufai, Makarfi Or Sambo” — Gov. Sani Declares

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has declined to be drawn into discussions about the political influence of former governors Nasir El-Rufai, Ahmed Makarfi and Namadi Sambo ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Sani made his position known during an interview with Channels Television, where he spoke about the evolving political landscape and the intensifying competition ahead of the 2027 polls.

The governor also dismissed claims that voters in the North are becoming increasingly opposed to President Bola Tinubu, predicting that the President could win between 70 and 80 per cent of the votes in Kaduna State in 2027.

According to Sani, the perception of growing opposition to Tinubu in the North is driven largely by political narratives and social media discussions rather than the realities on the ground.

He maintained that neither Kaduna State nor the wider northern region was against the President, arguing that voters would ultimately judge Tinubu’s administration based on its performance and the impact of its policies on their lives.

Sani said:

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will move from 29 percent of votes to 70 to 80 percent.

“In Kaduna State, we don’t do politics of sentiment. I am not going to talk about any personality here. I am not here to speak about the former governor, Nasir El-Rufai. I respect him, I respect Makarfi, I respect Namadi Sambo, I respect Governor El-Rufai. They’ve done their best but in politics, I am here to fight for APC and I’m telling you what’s going to happen.”

Responding to a reminder that Kaduna was among the major northern states where former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar defeated Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election, Sani said the political dynamics in the state had changed significantly since then.

He argued that the factors that influenced the 2023 outcome should not automatically be expected to shape the 2027 election, pointing to recent political movements within the state.

According to the governor, the defection of several politicians from opposition parties into the All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly in southern Kaduna, could significantly influence the voting pattern in the next presidential election.

Sani also stressed the importance of grassroots mobilisation, saying serious political campaigns must extend beyond major cities and reach the thousands of wards across the country.

He maintained that elections are won through sustained engagement with voters at the grassroots, stressing:

“You don’t contest with the President by campaigning in Abuja.”