Ex-Kaduna Speaker Pledges Loyalty to APC Despite Losing Senatorial Primary

Former Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Yusuf Zailani, has pledged his loyalty to the All Progressives Congress (APC) despite losing the Kaduna Central Senatorial District ticket in the party’s primary election. Zailani rejected the outcome of the primary and alleged irregularities, but has now accepted the party's decision and vowed to work for the APC's success.

In an interview that has circulated widely on social media and was seen by PREMIUM TIMES, Zailani made his stance clear. The former speaker is quoted as saying:

“The APC has done everything for me. In the party, I became Majority Leader, later Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, and I even served as Acting Governor. All these opportunities came through the APC.”

Zailani’s comments represent a significant shift from his immediate reaction to the APC senatorial primary, where former lawmaker Shehu Sani emerged as the winner of the Kaduna Central ticket. The primary was keenly contested and drew widespread attention because it brought together two influential politicians with longstanding political structures in the state.

Zailani, who lost to Sani in the primary election, initially rejected the outcome, alleging that the exercise was marred by irregularities and failed to reflect the wishes of genuine party delegates. However, his latest remarks suggest he has accepted the party’s decision and is prepared to move on. The APC primary for Kaduna Central was one of the most closely watched contests in Kaduna State.

Shehu Sani, the winner of the primary election, is a former senator who represented Kaduna Central in the Senate between 2015 and 2019. He returned to the APC after his senatorial tenure and successfully secured the party's ticket for the Kaduna Central Senatorial District.

An ally of Zailani told PREMIUM TIMES that the former speaker’s latest remarks were an effort to promote reconciliation within the APC following the contentious senatorial primary. “The primary is over, and politics is about building consensus after competition. He has accepted the reality and believes the party must move forward together. That is the message he is sending,” the source said.