Opposition Not Campaigning, Only Reacting To APC — Uba Sani

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has criticised opposition parties for allegedly failing to campaign ahead of the 2027 general election, accusing them of merely reacting to activities and messages of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Sani said the opposition had been more concerned with commenting on the APC’s campaign activities and criticising its rallies on social media than reaching out to Nigerians to canvass for votes.

The governor stated this in an interview with ARISE News, where he defended the APC’s campaign activities and expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu’s administration would secure public support based on its record.

According to him, the APC remains the only party actively campaigning, while opposition parties wait for the ruling party to make moves before responding.

“You know, so the opposition, in my opinion, are not campaigning. What are they doing? They are waiting for APC to campaign, and they are just reacting. If I’m the candidate in the opposition party, I’ll be worried,” he said.

Sani challenged opposition politicians to take their campaigns to the people instead of remaining in their offices and relying on media appearances and social media commentary to counter the APC’s activities.

“I will ask my people, go out and campaign. Rather than sitting down in your comfort of your offices, waiting for APC to go to campaign, and you go to address media or write stories on the social media, why can’t you go out and campaign?” he asked.

The governor added, “So for me, in my own opinion, there’s only one party campaigning in Nigeria, and that’s the reason why the people of Nigeria will appreciate APC.”

He maintained that opposition parties should develop their own campaign strategies and engage voters directly rather than concentrating on the activities of the ruling party.

“When you look at other parties, from yesterday till this moment, what are they doing? Commenting on what APC is doing, rather than them planning to go out amid the people themselves,” Sani said.

Defending Tinubu’s decision to intensify campaign activities, the governor said the President and APC leaders were going before the electorate because they had achievements to showcase.

He cited what he described as 305 infrastructure interventions by the Federal Government in Kaduna State, alongside improvements in the state’s security situation.

“So I think, why is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu going out now, or some of us? Because we have something to show. Yesterday, I made mention of some of the level of development we are having in Kaduna,” he said.

“I made example of 305 infrastructural intervention from the president in Kaduna alone, and also talked about the issue of security situation, where I can sit here and tell you, without any fear of contradiction, that we have seen some level of progress in the issue of security situation in our state.”

Sani argued that the opposition should focus on presenting alternative policies and demonstrating its own achievements instead of disputing the APC’s campaign narratives.

He also dismissed criticism surrounding the turnout at the President’s rally in Kaduna, alleging that some opposition figures had relied on artificial intelligence-generated content to question the number of people who attended the event.

“Rather than sitting down, using AI fiction, worrying about how many people came out,” he said.

The governor claimed that more than 500,000 people lined the streets from the airport to the stadium to welcome Tinubu, alongside supporters gathered around and inside the venue.

Sani said the turnout had surprised the opposition, which he alleged had expected residents of Northern Nigeria to reject the President.

“For me, that is why everyone is shocked. Even the opposition are shocked, because all the narrative, all their own statements before the rally, they were thinking that the northern people will reject the president,” he said.

He further described Northern voters as politically conscious and capable of assessing candidates based on their records in public office.

“But like I always say, the northerners are very smart, highly educated, and they are really aware of what’s happening in the country,” the governor said.

According to him, voters would demand evidence of past performance from any politician seeking their support.

“So if you come to us and say, vote for me, they will ask you about your track record. But President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has a track record to show, and that is what we are campaigning with, as of today,” he added.

Sani’s remarks come as APC flag-off its campaign rally in Kaduna on Saturday ahead of the 2027 general election, with the ruling party seeking to defend its record and the opposition expected to challenge the administration’s performance and present alternative policy proposals.