Vice President Kashim Shettima has praised Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, for strengthening the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state and attracting members of opposition parties into its fold.
Shettima said recent political movements show that Kaduna is moving closer to becoming a one-party state under Governor Sani’s leadership. He spoke during the commissioning of the Tudun Biri Resettlement Scheme over the weekend.
At the event, the Vice President applauded what he described as the governor’s calculated and inclusive political approach. He said the APC is gaining ground in several parts of the state due to sustained engagement with political leaders and communities.
“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,” Shettima said.
He reflected on the outcome of the 2023 general elections and noted that the APC performed poorly in Kaduna at the time. According to him, the party lost all three senatorial seats to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“In 2023, we lost all three Senate seats to the PDP. Out of the 16 members of the National Assembly, the APC had only four. The PDP had 10, while the Labour Party had two,” he stated.
Shettima said the political situation has changed due to renewed efforts by the governor and party leaders to rebuild trust and unity across the state. He explained that several influential politicians from opposition parties have now joined the APC.
“We have in our midst former Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero. We have Senator Sunday Marshal,” he said.
The Vice President described the development in Southern Kaduna as historic. He pointed out that the zone had always produced PDP senators since 1999 and had never been represented by the APC until now.
“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 added.
Shettima also announced that a serving member of the House of Representatives from Igabi Federal Constituency had defected to the APC. He said the constituency is one of the largest in Nigeria, with about 600 polling units and more than 400,000 registered voters.
He attributed the wave of defections to Governor Sani’s leadership style. According to him, the governor’s approach has helped bridge political and ethnic divides and encouraged cooperation among leaders from different backgrounds.
“This is leadership. Without your inclusive approach, I don’t think Sunday Marshal and other leaders in Southern Kaduna would have joined the APC,” Shettima said.
Beyond politics, the Vice President commended the Kaduna State Government for working closely with the Federal Government on the Tudun Biri Resettlement Scheme. He described the project as a sign of people-focused governance and timely response to community needs.
Governor Uba Sani, in his remarks, expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving Tudun Biri as the first beneficiary of the Resettlement Scheme for Persons Impacted by Conflicts.
He assured residents that his administration would continue to work with the Federal Government to restore normal life to Tudun Biri and other vulnerable communities across Kaduna State.
