Vice President Kashim Shettima has praised Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani for what he described as an inclusive leadership style that is rapidly expanding the political influence of the All Progressives Congress in the state.
Shettima made the remarks at the weekend during the commissioning of the Tudun Biri Resettlement Scheme, where he publicly declared that Governor Sani was turning Kaduna State into a one-party state.
According to the Vice President, recent political developments in the state reflect deliberate efforts by the governor to widen the APC’s base and attract opposition figures.
He said the growing number of defections into the ruling party demonstrated increasing confidence in the governor’s leadership and approach to governance.
Shettima expressed gratitude to Governor Sani, describing his actions as strategic and far-reaching in reshaping Kaduna’s political landscape.
He noted that several members of the House of Representatives representing Soba, Makarfi and Kudan constituencies were on their way to joining the APC.
The Vice President said these developments signalled a major shift in the state’s political alignment.
Recalling the outcome of the 2023 general elections, Shettima said the APC had performed poorly in Kaduna at the time.
He explained that the party lost all three Senate seats in the state to the Peoples Democratic Party.
Out of the 16 members representing Kaduna State in the National Assembly, Shettima said the APC secured only four seats.
According to him, the PDP won 10 seats, while the Labour Party claimed two seats during the 2023 elections.
He described the outcome as a major setback for the APC in one of its traditional strongholds.
However, Shettima said the political situation in Kaduna had since changed significantly.
He attributed the turnaround to what he described as the conscious and deliberate efforts of Governor Sani and party leaders in the state.
The Vice President said the governor’s leadership style had helped rebuild trust and unity within the party while attracting opposition politicians.
He said several prominent political figures who were formerly aligned with opposition parties had since joined the APC.
Among those mentioned by Shettima were former Kaduna State Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero.
He also referenced Senator Sunday Marshal as one of the key political figures who had aligned with the ruling party.
Shettima described recent political gains in Southern Kaduna as particularly remarkable.
He noted that Southern Kaduna had consistently elected senators on the platform of the PDP since the return to democratic rule in 1999.
According to him, the APC had never previously produced a senator from the zone.
He said the emergence of an APC senator in Southern Kaduna marked a historic shift in the region’s political pattern.
Shettima credited Governor Sani for making the breakthrough possible.
“This is the first time in living memory that the APC has a senator in Southern Kaduna,” the Vice President said.
He described the development as the result of what he called the singular effort of the governor.
Shettima also announced the defection of a serving member of the House of Representatives from the Igabi Federal Constituency.
He described Igabi as one of the largest federal constituencies in Nigeria.
According to him, the constituency has about 600 polling units and an estimated 400,000 registered voters.
The Vice President said the defection further strengthened the APC’s growing dominance in the state.
He attributed the wave of defections to Governor Sani’s inclusive and consultative approach to leadership.
Shettima said the governor had succeeded in fostering trust across political, ethnic and regional lines.
He noted that such trust had encouraged politicians from different backgrounds to align with the APC.
According to him, the governor’s leadership style created a sense of belonging among diverse political actors.
Shettima said without this inclusive approach, many of the recent defections would not have been possible.
He specifically mentioned that leaders from Southern Kaduna would not have joined the APC without the governor’s deliberate outreach.
The Vice President described the developments as a clear example of effective leadership.
He said Governor Sani’s approach demonstrated how inclusive governance could translate into political stability and growth.
Shettima’s comments come amid increasing political realignments across several states ahead of future elections.
In Kaduna, the growing number of defections has sparked discussions about the future strength of opposition parties.
Supporters of the APC view the developments as a sign of renewed confidence in the party’s leadership at the state level.
Opposition parties, however, have raised concerns in the past about the implications of a one-party dominant system.
Despite differing views, the APC leadership has continued to celebrate the defections as voluntary and driven by trust in governance.
The commissioning of the Tudun Biri Resettlement Scheme provided the platform for Shettima’s remarks.
The project is part of broader efforts by the Kaduna State Government to address resettlement and welfare needs.
Shettima said the combination of governance achievements and political inclusiveness had strengthened the APC’s position in the state.
He expressed optimism that the party would continue to consolidate its gains under Governor Sani’s leadership.
The Vice President said the unfolding political changes in Kaduna reflected a broader trend of alignment with the APC’s vision.
He described the governor as a unifying figure capable of bringing together different political interests.
As political realignments continue, Kaduna State appears set to remain a focal point in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.
