Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, is putting his faith squarely behind President Bola Tinubu, predicting a landslide victory in the North for the upcoming 2027 elections. Sani confidently stated that Tinubu could snag between 70 and a whopping 80 percent of the votes in Kaduna State alone. He made this bold projection during a recent interview on Channels Television, where he tackled the growing talk of a potential northern backlash against the President.
According to Governor Sani, the idea of northern voters turning away from Tinubu is mostly hot air, fuelled by social media chatter and political posturing rather than the real deal on the ground. He insists that neither the entire North nor Kaduna State holds any opposition to President Tinubu. The governor believes that voters will ultimately cast their ballots based on how the administration's policies have actually improved their lives. "President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will move from 29 percent of votes to 70 to 80 percent," Sani declared. "In Kaduna State, we don’t do politics of sentiment."
Kaduna was one of the key northern states where former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar actually beat Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election. Atiku raked in 554,360 votes there, while Tinubu managed 399,293. But Sani is quick to point out that the political landscape in Kaduna has changed dramatically since then. He argued that whatever led to the 2023 outcome shouldn't be assumed to be the same story for 2027.
A major factor Sani highlighted is the influx of politicians from opposition parties into the All Progressives Congress (APC), especially in the southern part of Kaduna. He believes these political migrations will significantly shake up the voting patterns. Federal government initiatives under Tinubu's watch are also expected to boost the President's support in the state. Among these are the establishment of a Federal University of Science and Technology in southern Kaduna and the development of a federal medical centre there.
Governor Sani also took a moment to acknowledge the contributions of former President Muhammadu Buhari and President Tinubu to Kaduna's development. He still admitted that the state needs even more infrastructure to thrive. When pressed about the influence of former governor Nasir El-Rufai and his allies, particularly given some internal friction within the APC, Sani maintained his focus on party unity rather than personal politics. "I don’t do politics of sentiments. I’m not going to talk about any personality here. I respect him.
I value him," he stated. He emphasized his commitment to strengthening the APC and ensuring its message resonates with voters across Kaduna.
Beyond election predictions, Governor Sani offered a word of caution to Nigerians regarding election promises. He urged voters to critically examine how politicians plan to fund their ambitious pledges, demanding concrete plans and clear explanations. "Someone will come and sit here and tell you that when I become governor, or when I become president, I will ensure that every student is given N10 million. You allow him to walk away without asking: how would you do it?" he questioned.
Dismissing the idea that television appearances and social media buzz are enough to win elections, Sani stressed the importance of grassroots engagement. "You don’t contest with the President by campaigning in Abuja," he asserted. He described elections as a "practical" exercise requiring consistent connection with voters at the local level. The APC's success in 2027 will hinge on its ability to effectively communicate its achievements and maintain a strong, visible presence among the people in Kaduna and the broader northern regions.
Governor Sani's optimism extends beyond Kaduna, as he predicted strong performance for President Tinubu across the Northwest, Northeast, and North-Central regions of the country.