From Femi Oyelola,Kaduna
Former Senator Shehu Sani has won the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary for the Kaduna Central Senatorial District and called on aspirants who are unhappy with the result to accept it and work together for the party’s success in the 2027 elections.
Sani received 9,105 votes to beat Yusuf Ibrahim Zailani, who got 1,021 votes, and Shettima Yerima, who scored 1,253 votes after withdrawing from the race. The return¬ing officer, Samira Jibrin, announced the results.
After the announcement, Sani spoke with journalists at his Kaduna home. He thanked the party leaders and members in Kaduna for their votes, prayers, and support. He also appreciated Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for their backing during the contest.
“I must thank my friend, brother, and governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, for standing by me in this battle, which we have won. I also appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support and solidarity throughout this period,” he said.
Describing Kaduna as the political heart of Northern Nigeria, Sani emphasized the need for bold and effective representation in the National Assembly. He promised to defend the interests of his constituents just as he did during his previous term in the Senate about eight years ago.
“My goal is to make sure that the interests, hopes, and expectations of my people are well represented in parliament,” he stated. He also noted that the National Assembly plays a vital role in supporting democracy, ensuring accountability, and supervising government policies.
Sani pointed out the major problems facing Northern Nigeria, including poverty, insecurity, a lack of industrial growth, and social decay, and said they require ongoing legislative focus. He also commended Governor Uba Sani for fostering unity between the mainly Muslim northern part of Kaduna State and the mostly Christian southern region.
Sani called for party unity, saying his door remains open to all aspirants who challenged him. “For those who refused to step down and insisted on contesting, our hands remain open for unity and peaceful coexistence so we can build the party together,” he said. He urged Nigerians to reject attempts to use ethnic and religious differences to divide them ahead of the 2027 elections.
However, the Yusuf Ibrahim Zailani Campaign Council rejected the results. Speaking on behalf of the council, Deputy Director-General Cafra Caino said no valid primary election took place across the seven local government areas of the zone.
Caino claimed that party members waited for hours at ward and party offices without seeing election officials or materials and argued that the process did not meet the standards set by the APC National Working Committee.
“Consequently, the Right Honorable Yusuf Ibrahim Zailani Campaign Council unequivocally rejects the purported result announced for the Kaduna Central Senatorial Zone primary election,” he declared.
