Gov Sani To El-Rufai: No Polling Units On Twitter, Facebook

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has told his predecessor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, that there were no polling units on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

The Governor, who spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna, on Monday, after the party’s victory in Saturday’s bye-election, cautioned party members against being carried away by social media propaganda.

Sani said while the opposition dwelt on “Twitter battles and Facebook noise,” the APC focused on grassroots mobilisation, inclusivity, and delivering good governance, which gave the party victory at the polls.

“There is no ballot box on Twitter. There is no ballot box on Instagram or Facebook. Elections are won at the grassroots, not on social media,” the Governor said.

The governor’s remarks were widely interpreted as a dig at former Governor El-Rufai, known for his strong social media presence and frequent political commentaries on Twitter (now X).

Sani maintained that propaganda could never win elections, insisting that governance, inclusivity and people-centred policies could sustain the APC in power.

“Our opponents chose to fight the propaganda battle, but we chose the political battle. They lost because people knew who was working for them. We will not waste our time on social media noise-making,” he said.

The Governor told party leaders and stakeholders that Saturday’s victory was historic, particularly in areas where the APC had never won since 1999.

He said the feat was possible because of his administration’s deliberate focus on economic development, rural empowerment, and agriculture.

“Since 1999, some communities have never voted for our party. However, they stood with us today because they saw inclusivity in action. We pledged to defend everyone, irrespective of religion, ethnicity, or party affiliation—and we kept it,” he added.

Sani highlighted the state’s agricultural investment, saying his government reclaimed over 500,000 hectares of farmland previously abandoned due to insecurity, and made Kaduna a leader in maize, tomato, and ginger production.

For his part, the APC State Chairman, Air Commodore Emmanuel Jekada (rtd.), commended the Governor’s inclusive leadership style and praised stakeholders for ensuring victory in the bye-election.