Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has expressed confidence that Nigerians, particularly those from the northern region, will support President Bola Tinubu for a second term in the 2027 presidential election.
Mr Sani stated this during an interview on Channels Television on Monday, where he argued that the Tinubu administration has succeeded in stabilising the Nigerian economy since assuming office in 2023.
The governor said critics of the president had failed to provide Nigerians with credible alternatives or policy options in key sectors such as education, healthcare and agriculture.
According to him, many opposition figures were previously part of the same political establishment and have only recently reinvented themselves as activists and pro-democracy advocates.
“They will vote for him for two reasons. Most of those opposing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, have they really come forward to tell Nigerians what their alternative position is in education, healthcare or agriculture?” he asked.
“These are people we were together with just yesterday. Now they have suddenly become activists and pro-democracy campaigners overnight.”
Mr Sani maintained that ordinary Nigerians, particularly those in rural communities, are familiar with the political history and antecedents of opposition figures and are more concerned about practical solutions than political rhetoric.
“The people in the villages know these individuals and their antecedents. The question is whether there is really any opposition offering something better,” he said.
“The answer is no because we have not seen anything they can do better than what the president is doing under the current circumstances. That is what the common man on the streets and in the villages is asking, and there is no answer at the moment.”
Commenting on the consensus arrangement crisis within the ruling All Progressives Congress, the Kaduna governor said he was not worried about disagreements surrounding the process.
He explained that while consensus candidacy remains a legitimate option, it must be based on the agreement of all aspirants involved, in line with the Electoral Act.
“Honestly, I am not losing sleep over the situation,” he said.
“In Kaduna, I called aspirants together and told them that where consensus is possible, we should adopt it. But where people do not agree, the Electoral Act is very clear.”
Mr Sani stressed that no aspirant should be forced into a consensus arrangement without their consent.
“You cannot have consensus until all aspirants sit together and agree. Outside that, I do not think it is right,” he added.
The governor also noted that although governors may have preferred candidates, party members ultimately have the final say in deciding who emerges as cacandidates during party primaries.
