by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
In a major political shift ahead of the 2027 general elections, key political associates and former allies of immediate past Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, have returned to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party and declared support for Governor Senator Uba Sani.
The realignment, confirmed on Tuesday, is seen as a significant boost to the governor’s camp, as political permutations begin to take shape in the state.
Among those reportedly returning to the APC and aligning with the Uba Sani-led political structure are, Bashir Saidu, former Chief of Staff to the Kaduna State Government under El-Rufai; Abdu Kwari, former Commissioner and former Senator; Nasir Abdullahi Maikano, former SDP Chairman in Kaduna State and three-term member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly for Ungwan Sanusi Constituency.
Others area Moukhtar Isa Hazo, former Deputy Speaker, Kaduna State House of Assembly, and several other grassroots politicians across the 23 local government areas.
The move comes amid ongoing political realignments in Kaduna State, and is expected to further strengthen Governor Sani’s foothold within the APC ahead of 2027.
The affected politicians had, at various times, been prominent in the political camp of the former governor, making their decision to pitch tent with the incumbent politically significant.
Confirming the development, former Kaduna State Commissioner, Jafaru Ibrahim Sani, said, “It’s true, we are going together with them.”
Political observers say the return of the El-Rufai allies could reshape the power dynamics within the APC in Kaduna and weaken opposition structures ahead of the next election cycle.
With the 2027 contest already generating discussions around competing interests and alliances within and outside the ruling party, the latest movement raises fresh questions about the evolving influence of political camps in the state.
In a nutshell, as stakeholders continue to position themselves, Governor Uba Sani appears to be consolidating support across party lines in his bid for a second term.