Kaduna Governor Declares State a One-Party APC Stronghold, Says No Opposition

Key facts

• Governor Uba Sani declared Kaduna a one-party state under the APC on Thursday, December 2024.
• Sani made the remarks while hosting a presidential delegation led by Bayo Onanuga.
• The governor claimed no president has supported northern Nigeria as much as President Tinubu in less than three years.
• Sani recalled Tinubu's visit to Birnin Gwari on 12 December 2022, which took five hours due to insecurity.
• He stated that travel to Birnin Gwari no longer requires a military escort.
• The governor approved N3.5 billion for homeowners affected by road construction.
• Sani donated N10 million to the family of a late teacher after kidnapped students were returned.
• He predicted Tinubu would win 70% of the vote in polling units, despite losing on social media.

Governor Declares End of Opposition in Kaduna

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has declared that the state is now a one-party stronghold of the All Progressives Congress (APC), with no meaningful opposition. Speaking on Thursday while hosting a presidential delegation led by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, Sani said: “Kaduna state, as we are speaking, we have no opposition. That’s the fact of the matter. We have brought Kaduna into a one-party state and I have no apology for that.” The delegation was in Kaduna to inspect ongoing development projects across the north-west under the current administration. Sani’s remarks came during a media tour that included Friday’s events, where he repeated the assertion. He framed the one-party status as a natural outcome of the APC’s performance rather than political exclusion.

Governor Defends One-Party System as Democratic Consolidation

Sani rejected any criticism of the one-party system, insisting that opposition forces are not interested in democracy but in truncating it. “We know that people are fighting for political office but we also know they are fighting to truncate this democracy and that is the reason we have no option but to resist them,” he said. He accused some journalists of approaching governance issues with preconceived opinions, stating: “Before getting to the studio, they already have their own opinion, and they want you to listen to them. But we can’t do that. Most of them have no historical perspectives of where we are coming from.” The governor, who was detained under the military junta of Sani Abacha and released only after Abacha’s death, used his personal history to underscore his democratic credentials. “What do they know about democracy? We were detained in Kaduna here by the military junta. I was in detention when former President Sanni Abacha died,” he said.

Tinubu’s Record in the North: Infrastructure and Security Gains

Sani lavished praise on President Bola Tinubu, claiming that no previous leader has done more for northern Nigeria. “No president has supported northern Nigeria as President Tinubu has done in less than three years,” he said. He cited two major projects approved for Kaduna: a Light Rail corridor of about 50 kilometers at a cost of N1 trillion. The governor also highlighted improvements in security, recalling Tinubu’s visit to Birnin Gwari on 12 December 2022. “It was a journey of less than two hours, but it took us five hours. The problem was security, because at that time you could not travel from Kaduna to Birnin Gwari without military escort. But today, you can go there without police escort,” Sani said. He argued that these developments have boosted economic activities, particularly for farmers and small-scale traders. Sani also noted that the north has benefited more than the south under Tinubu, challenging critics who claim the president favors his home region. “Is Kaduna in the South?” he asked rhetorically.

President’s Re-Election Prospects and Grassroots Support

The governor expressed confidence that Tinubu would secure overwhelming electoral support from the north in 2027, dismissing social media criticism as unrepresentative of real voters. “All the people talking that the president won’t win elections, if elections are conducted on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, that’s where he will lose. But if it is people that vote at polling units, he is going to get 70 per cent of the votes,” Sani said. He predicted that no zone, not even the south-west, would vote more for Tinubu than the north. Earlier, Bayo Onanuga explained that the presidential delegation’s tour aimed to assess how states are utilizing funds saved from fuel subsidy removal. He commended Kaduna for what he described as prudent deployment of resources, adding: “The president has been taking the bullets for these economic decisions to better the economy of the country.”

Background: From Insecurity to Infrastructure Investment

Sani’s declaration comes amid a broader narrative of transformation in Kaduna, which prior to 2023 was plagued by insecurity and poor infrastructure. The governor recalled that before Tinubu’s visit to Birnin Gwari, the area was so dangerous that travel required military escort. Today, improved road infrastructure and security have allowed farmers and traders to operate without fear. The state government has also approved N3.5 billion for homeowners affected by road construction, and Sani donated N10 million to the family of a late teacher after kidnapped students were returned. The governor’s comments also reflect a strategic alignment with the federal government, as Kaduna positions itself as a showcase for the APC’s governance model. The one-party state assertion, while controversial, is presented by Sani as a measure of political stability and development success.

Outlook: Implications for Nigerian Democracy

Sani’s unapologetic embrace of a one-party state raises questions about the health of democratic pluralism in Nigeria. While he frames it as a result of popular support, critics may see it as a warning sign of shrinking political space. The governor’s dismissal of opposition as a threat to democracy, and his characterization of journalists as biased, could further polarize the political environment. With the 2027 elections on the horizon, Sani’s declaration may embolden other APC governors to consolidate power, potentially reducing electoral competition. For now, Kaduna stands as a test case of whether a one-party system can deliver the economic and security improvements that Sani promises. The governor’s confidence in Tinubu’s re-election, backed by claims of unprecedented northern support, will be closely watched as the political season unfolds.

The bottom line

• Governor Uba Sani declared Kaduna a one-party APC state with no opposition, citing political consolidation.
• Sani claimed President Tinubu has done more for northern Nigeria than any previous leader, highlighting a N1 trillion light rail project.
• Security in Birnin Gwari has improved significantly since December 2022, allowing travel without military escort.
• The governor predicted Tinubu would win 70% of the vote at polling units, despite losing on social media.
• Sani criticized journalists for biased reporting and accused opposition of trying to truncate democracy.
• The presidential delegation praised Kaduna’s use of funds saved from fuel subsidy removal.