Shettima: Uba Sani Turning Kaduna into One-Party State as APC Records Wave of Defections

Vice President Kashim Shettima has said that the leadership style of Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, is steadily transforming the state into a one-party stronghold for the All Progressives Congress (APC), following a surge in defections from opposition parties.

Shettima made the remark at the weekend during the commissioning of the Tudun Biri Resettlement Scheme, where he praised the governor for what he described as deliberate, inclusive and strategic political engagement across the state.

“Governor Uba Sani, we are most grateful. You are gradually turning Kaduna into a one-party state, with House of Representatives members representing Soba, Makarfi and Kudan on their way to the APC,” the Vice President said.

Recalling the outcome of the 2023 general elections, Shettima noted that the APC had suffered significant losses in Kaduna, particularly at the National Assembly level. According to him, the party lost all three senatorial seats to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and secured only four out of 16 National Assembly seats.

“In 2023, the APC had only four members. The PDP had 10, while the Labour Party had two,” he stated.

Shettima said the political landscape has since ced due to what he termed the conscious and deliberate efforts of Governor Sani, leading to the defection of prominent opposition figures, including former Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero and Senator Sunday Marshal.

He described recent developments in Southern Kaduna as historic, noting that the zone had consistently elected PDP senators since 1999. “This is the first time in living memory that the APC has a senator in Southern Kaduna, due to the singular effort of Governor Uba Sani,” he said.

The Vice President also announced the defection of a serving House of Representatives member from Igabi Federal Constituency, one of the largest constituencies in Nigeria.

Shettima attributed the growing defections to Governor Sani’s inclusive leadership style, which he said has fostered trust across political, ethnic and regional divides.