Kaduna now one-party state, says Uba Sani

By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has declared that the state is effectively under the dominance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that opposition forces have become largely insignificant in the political landscape.

Sani made the assertion on Thursday while hosting a delegation from the Presidency led by Bayo Onanuga, who were in the state to inspect ongoing developmental projects across the North-West.

Speaking during the visit, the governor said Kaduna had witnessed a major political shift, claiming that the APC had consolidated its grip on the state to the extent that opposition voices no longer pose any real challenge.

“To my commissioners, I just want to thank you, and I can assure you that Kaduna State, as we are speaking, we have no opposition. That’s the fact of the matter. We have brought Kaduna into a one-party state and I have no apology for that,” he said.

The governor also took a swipe at some sections of the media, accusing certain journalists of approaching governance issues with preconceived opinions rather than objective analysis.

According to him, “Before getting to the studio, they already have their own opinion, and they want you to listen to them. But we can’t do that. Most of them have no historical perspectives of where we are coming from.”

On national politics, Sani strongly defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, arguing that no previous administration had supported northern Nigeria as much within such a short period.

“No president has supported northern Nigeria as President Tinubu has done in less than three years,” he said, expressing confidence that the region would deliver overwhelming electoral support to the president in 2027.

He further recalled the security challenges that once plagued parts of Kaduna, particularly Birnin Gwari, noting that the situation has significantly improved under the current administration.

“It was a journey of less than two hours, but it took us five hours due to insecurity. Today, you can travel without escort,” Sani said, adding that improved road infrastructure and security have boosted economic activities, especially for farmers and small-scale traders.

The governor also dismissed concerns over President Tinubu’s re-election prospects, maintaining that grassroots support remains strong despite criticisms on social media.

“All the people talking that the president won’t win elections , if elections are conducted on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, that’s where he will lose. But if it is people that vote at polling units, he is going to get 70 per cent of the votes,” he said.

Earlier, Onanuga explained that the presidential delegation’s tour was aimed at assessing how states were utilising funds saved from fuel subsidy removal, commending Kaduna for what he described as prudent deployment of resources.

“The president has been taking the bullets for these economic decisions to better the economy of the country,” he said.

“From what we have seen in Kaduna, this money has gone into development projects that are impacting the lives of ordinary citizens. Kaduna is a role model in the effective utilisation of the funds given to states,” Onanuga added.