Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has rejected allegations by former Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Yusuf Ibrahim Zailani, that leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State are deceiving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Sani described the claims as unfounded and politically motivated, insisting that the decisions taken by party stakeholders in Kaduna were the outcome of broad consultations and reflected the collective will of party members across the state.
The former lawmaker was reacting to remarks credited to Zailani, who accused some APC leaders in Kaduna of misleading President Tinubu and creating the impression that they enjoyed widespread support among party faithful.
Responding to the allegations, Sani maintained that the endorsement he received from APC stakeholders in Kaduna Central Senatorial District was not the product of manipulation or imposition, but rather the outcome of consultations involving party leaders from the seven local government areas that make up the district.
According to him, the endorsement neither violated the principles of internal democracy nor prevented any interested aspirant from contesting the party’s primary election.
He stressed that every party member who aspired to represent Kaduna Central was given the opportunity to participate in the electoral process and test his popularity before delegates and party members.
Sani further argued that the APC leadership in Kaduna remained committed to strengthening the party and supporting the administration of President Tinubu, adding that attempts to portray party leaders as deceptive or disconnected from the grassroots were unfair and misleading.
He urged party members to avoid inflammatory statements capable of creating unnecessary divisions within the APC, emphasizing the need for unity and cohesion as the party prepares for future electoral contests.
The exchange is the latest chapter in the political rivalry between Sani and Zailani over the Kaduna Central Senatorial seat, a contest that has generated considerable debate within the APC in Kaduna State.
Political observers believe the disagreement reflects the broader struggle for influence within the ruling party as politicians position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.
