The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State has replaced Hon. Samaila Abdu Suleiman with Abdulazeez Kaka as its final candidate for the Kaduna North Federal Constituency. This change was made by the party's National Working Committee (NWC) following the review of primary election appeals. Suleiman, believed to be an ally of Governor Uba Sani, has not officially reacted to his replacement.
Former Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Yusuf Zailani, who lost the Kaduna Central Senatorial District bid to Shehu Sani, has dismissed speculation about leaving the party. Zailani insisted that he remains loyal to the APC, regardless of its final decision on candidates. He made these comments in an interview with a local radio station.
Zailani mentioned that reports circulating on social media about the distribution of nomination forms had not been officially confirmed. "I saw on social media that forms had been issued, but there is no official confirmation of what type of forms they are," he said. This suggests that the party's internal processes are still underway.
The former Speaker emphasized that political office is ultimately determined by God, not by party processes alone. "I always tell our supporters that elections are in God's hands. Whether the party conducts primaries or not, if God has destined someone to emerge, it will happen. God is the one who gives power," he said.
Zailani firmly rejected suggestions that he could defect from the APC if denied the party's ticket. "Why should I leave the APC? I have spent many years in this party. I won five elections into the Kaduna State House of Assembly, served as Chief Whip, Deputy Speaker, Speaker, and even Acting Governor of Kaduna State," he stated.
Zailani referenced the 2023 elections, saying some politicians who failed to secure party tickets attempted to work against the APC but were unsuccessful. He expressed his commitment to the party, stating that it would not be right to abandon the APC simply because he did not get a ticket.
The developments in Kaduna State APC have sparked interest in the run-up to the next elections. With key aspirants like Zailani and Suleiman maintaining their loyalty to the party, attention will focus on how these changes impact the APC's performance in the Kaduna North Federal Constituency and Kaduna Central Senatorial District.
Key points
- Yusuf Zailani and Samaila Abdu Suleiman have expressed loyalty to the APC despite losing party tickets.
- The APC National Working Committee replaced Suleiman with Abdulazeez Kaka as the candidate for Kaduna North Federal Constituency.
- Zailani attributes success in politics to God's will, emphasizing that party processes are not the sole determining factor.
