Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna state has rejected claims of growing opposition to President Bola Tinubu in the North ahead of 2027 general elections.
This was just as he asserted that the president could secure between 70 and 80 per cent of votes in Kaduna State in the forthcoming presidential election.
Sani made the declaration during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he addressed the emerging political alignments and contest for influence ahead of the 2027 elections.
The governor described the narrative of a northern backlash against Tinubu as largely driven by political propaganda and social media activities, insisting that it did not reflect the situation at the grassroots.
Asked whether there was a growing political rejection of Tinubu in the North, Sani responded: “No way. It is not possible.”
He predicted that Tinubu’s electoral fortunes in Kaduna would improve significantly from the 2023 presidential election, when the President polled 399,293 votes in the state against 554,360 votes secured by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will move from 29 percent of votes to 70 to 80 percent,” Sani said.
According to the governor, the political landscape in Kaduna has changed considerably since 2023, making it inappropriate to assume that the factors that influenced the previous election would produce the same outcome in 2027.
He cited the defection of politicians from opposition parties to the All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly in Southern Kaduna, as one of the developments that could influence the next election.
Sani also pointed to federal government projects in the state under Tinubu, including the establishment of a Federal University of Science and Technology in Southern Kaduna and the development of a federal medical centre.
He argued that voters would ultimately judge the Tinubu administration by its performance and the direct impact of its policies on their lives, rather than political narratives circulating online.
The governor further predicted strong support for Tinubu across the Northwest, Northeast and North-Central geopolitical zones.
Sani also dismissed the notion that presidential candidates could successfully challenge Tinubu through television appearances, social media campaigns and activities concentrated in Abuja.
“You don’t contest with the President by campaigning in Abuja,” he said, stressing that elections were “practical” and required sustained engagement with voters at the grassroots.
He said the APC would therefore focus on strengthening its presence across Kaduna and communicating the administration’s achievements to voters in the state’s wards and communities.
Beyond the 2027 political contest, Sani disclosed that his administration had not taken any fresh loan since assuming office, despite continuing to service debts inherited from previous governments.
“Since I became governor, I’ve not borrowed with one kobo,” he said.
The governor said Kaduna State currently spends about N6.7 billion every month servicing inherited loans.
He attributed his administration’s decision not to incur additional debt to what he described as prudent financial management and careful prioritisation of government expenditure.
“It’s about being prudent. It’s about selecting or being very careful in where you invest the money,” Sani said.
The governor also defended his administration’s performance, listing interventions in agriculture, education, infrastructure, skills development and security among its achievements.
Speaking on education, Sani said a household-mapping exercise conducted across Kaduna had identified about 550,000 out-of-school children.
He disclosed that more than 300,000 of the children had subsequently been returned to school, while acknowledging that the intervention remained ongoing.
According to him, the data generated through the exercise was enabling the government to identify affected children and better target resources toward tackling out-of-school rates across the state.
Sani also urged Nigerians to scrutinise political promises ahead of 2027 elections, insisting that politicians should explain how they intend to finance the programmes they promise voters.
“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 said.
On former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai and his political associates, amid divisions within the APC, Sani declined to engage in personality-driven 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 said.
