The political landscape in Southern Kaduna has taken a new turn ahead of the 2027 elections, with Hon Victor Mathew Bobai, Senior Special Adviser on Public Affairs to Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, stating that the region has become a closed political territory for the opposition. According to Bobai, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has built sufficient grassroots structures across 12 local government areas in Southern Kaduna. He cited the ongoing mobilisation by the APC as evidence of a "total shutdown" in the region.
Bobai, speaking on Invicta Radio in Kaduna, listed Kaduna South, Chikun, Kajuru, Kachia, Kagarko, Kaura, Kauru, Sanga, Jema’a, Zangon Kataf, Lere, and Jaba as areas where the APC has strengthened its position. He attributed this to the grassroots mobilisation efforts of Comrade Jerry Adams, the APC's deputy governorship candidate. Bobai expressed pride in associating with Adams' energy and asserted that the opposition should look elsewhere, as these LGAs are already sealed for the APC.
The APC's argument in Southern Kaduna goes beyond campaign rhetoric, with Bobai pointing to federal and state projects as tangible evidence of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani. He cited the approval of the Federal University of Applied Sciences in Kachia and the Federal Medical Centre in Kafanchan as examples of federal interventions. Additionally, Bobai mentioned major transportation and infrastructure commitments in Kaduna, including light rail and road projects.
Governor Uba Sani's administration has also announced major road reconstruction projects, including the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari corridor, alongside investments in skills development, healthcare, and public transportation. According to Bobai, the state government is implementing over 78 road projects covering approximately 775 kilometres, with several projects focused on rural connectivity. He specifically mentioned the Magajiya-Amaru-Unguwan Liman road and the Madauchi-Madakiya-Kafanchan corridor.
Beyond roads, Bobai highlighted the upgrading of 255 healthcare centres, the renovation of 15 general hospitals, including Kachia General Hospital, and the completion of 62 new secondary schools. He described the combination of infrastructure delivery, community programmes, youth mobilisation, and security initiatives as a formidable political structure going into 2027. Bobai also cited the growing network associated with General Christopher Gwabin Musa, the Minister of Defence, as a major component of the APC's emerging political and community mobilisation strategy.
The "CG Musa factor" combines community infrastructure, youth engagement, welfare interventions, security initiatives, and grassroots mobilisation. Bobai pointed to military-supported interventions involving schools, clinics, boreholes, and peace-building initiatives in communities affected by insecurity. He also referenced the Musawah for Youth and Development Initiative, which aims to encourage youth and women's participation in national development. According to Bobai, this movement has expanded its grassroots structures across Kaduna's 23 local government areas.
The campaign strategy involves intensifying grassroots engagement across the North-West, with Kaduna serving as a major centre of mobilisation for President Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani ahead of 2027. Bobai linked the political conversation to security, citing Governor Uba Sani's revival of the Kaduna State Vigilance Service and plans to recruit 7,000 youths into the community-based security structure. This initiative complements broader efforts around community policing, security awareness, and youth engagement.
Key points
- Southern Kaduna has become a closed political territory for the opposition, according to Hon Victor Mathew Bobai.
- The APC has built sufficient grassroots structures across 12 local government areas in Southern Kaduna.
- The combination of infrastructure delivery, community programmes, youth mobilisation, and security initiatives creates a formidable political structure going into 2027.
