2027: Northern Rival Has No Record To Challenge Tinubu, Uba Sani

Kaduna State governor, Senator Uba Sani, has challenged an unnamed Northern presidential aspirant seeking to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027 to present his record of achievements, insisting that regional identity alone cannot earn anyone the presidency. He said Northern Nigerians would reward Tinubu with massive votes for delivering on his promises.

Sani spoke on Saturday at the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign in Kaduna, where he argued that Tinubu had demonstrated greater commitment to Northern development through investments in infrastructure, security, education, agriculture and human capital development than those seeking power on regional sentiments.

“When someone came to us and said we should vote for him simply because he’s a Northerner, we asked him, can you show us a track record?” the governor said, challenging the aspirant to show evidence of comparable achievements, particularly in road construction.

Defending Tinubu’s performance, Sani recalled the President’s December 27, 2022, campaign visit to Birnin Gwari, then a major insecurity hotspot in Kaduna State, despite security warnings. He said Tinubu promised to reconstruct the abandoned 123-kilometre Kaduna–Birnin Gwari Road and tackle insecurity along the corridor, adding that both commitments had recorded significant progress.

“Today I can assure you the two promises you made, I’m happy to say that you have fulfilled the promises,” Sani said, disclosing that N100 billion had been released to the contractor handling the road. He also claimed that more than 300 schools and over 150 primary healthcare centres shut down because of insecurity in 2023 had reopened.

The governor further praised the federal government’s reconstruction of the Abuja–Kaduna Expressway, saying 95 per cent of the project had been completed, while describing the proposed 50-kilometre Kaduna metropolitan rail project, for which he said $865 million had been approved, as another major intervention. He also cited the ongoing Zaria–Soba–Funtua Road reconstruction as evidence of Tinubu’s commitment to the region.

On education and youth empowerment, Sani said the North-West had received N84 billion through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), benefiting about 414,000 students. He also commended the Technical and Vocational Education and Training programme and the administration’s agricultural interventions, arguing that the initiatives were creating opportunities for young people and supporting farmers.

The governor maintained that Tinubu’s performance had strengthened his case for re-election, urging Northerners to prioritise achievements over regional considerations.

“We are voting for a promise keeper to continue with the good work he is already doing in Kaduna State and in the North in general,” he declared.

Sani also accused opposition parties of relying on social media and artificial intelligence instead of genuine grassroots mobilisation, urging APC supporters to remain vigilant.

He assured Tinubu that the turnout at the Kaduna rally reflected the North’s resolve to support his second-term bid, declaring: “The people of Northern Nigeria will repay you with their votes. You have shown love, Mr. President.”