Former Senator Shehu Sani has officially rejoined the All Progressives Congress (APC) after years of political realignment. Sani, who previously represented Kaduna Central in the Senate, was among several prominent politicians who defected to the ruling party during a grand rally held at the Murtala Muhammed Square in Kaduna on Saturday. The event, organized by Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, saw key political figures from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) pledging allegiance to the APC.
Among the high-profile defectors were Suleiman Hunkuyi, the NNPP’s 2023 governorship candidate in Kaduna; Muktar Ramalan Yero, a former governor of Kaduna; and Sani Shaaban, a former member of the House of Representatives. Others included Danjuma Tela Laah, Abubakar Mustapha, Jafaru Kurmin Kogi, Donatus Mathew, Amos Gwamna Magaji, Henry Marah Zachariah, Samuel Kozah Kambai, Emmanuel Kantiok, Sule Buba, Yakubu Umar Barde, Mato Dogara, Micheal Auta, Joseph Almajiri Ciroma, Idris Zangon Aya, Muhammad Mahmud Aliyu, Usman Baba, and Seth Bakut.
Governor Uba Sani, in a statement, welcomed the new members and emphasized that their decision to join the APC was influenced by his administration’s “inclusive and people-centred policies and programmes.” He assured the defectors of full integration into the party and pledged to work with them in mobilizing greater support for the APC across the state.
“I thanked the decampees, party stakeholders, and citizens who turned out in their thousands for the stakeholders’ meeting and grand rally. I assured the defectors of our support to ensure their smooth integration into our dear party,” Uba Sani stated.
He also urged existing APC members to remain committed to the party’s vision, emphasizing the need for unity in building a better future for Kaduna State.
Shehu Sani’s return to the APC marks a significant political shift, as he had left the party in 2018 following a dispute over the party’s senatorial primaries for the 2019 elections. The APC’s National Working Committee (NWC) had initially cleared him as the sole candidate for the Kaduna Central senatorial ticket, but then-Governor Nasir el-Rufai strongly opposed his candidacy due to their long-standing rivalry. The ticket was eventually won by Uba Sani, an ally of el-Rufai at the time.
Following his exit from the APC, Shehu Sani joined the PDP and contested the 2019 senatorial election but was defeated by Uba Sani. Despite the loss, Sani remained a vocal opposition figure, frequently criticizing the policies of the Kaduna State government.
The political landscape in Kaduna has since evolved, with Governor Uba Sani’s relationship with Nasir el-Rufai reportedly turning sour after the 2023 elections. This development has reshaped the dynamics within the APC in the state, making room for new alliances and defections.
With these recent political realignments, observers believe that the return of Shehu Sani and other prominent figures to the APC could significantly strengthen the party’s influence ahead of future elections. As Kaduna State continues to witness shifting political loyalties, the implications of these defections will become clearer in the coming months.
