Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has dismissed claims of mounting opposition to President Bola Tinubu in northern Nigeria, predicting that the President will secure between 70 and 80 per cent of votes cast in Kaduna during the 2027 presidential election.
In an interview with Channels Television, Governor Sani addressed political realignments, opposition narratives and the contest for northern support ahead of the next general election, insisting that anti-Tinubu sentiment was largely a product of social media discourse rather than grassroots reality.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will move from 29 per cent of votes to 70 to 80 per cent,” Sani declared.
The governor argued that voters in Kaduna and across the northern states would ultimately judge the President based on his administration’s performance, policies and tangible impact on their daily lives.
Kaduna was among the key northern states where former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar defeated Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election, polling 554,360 votes against the President’s 399,293. However, Sani maintained that the political landscape had shifted significantly, citing the defection of opposition politicians to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly in southern Kaduna.
He also highlighted federal government interventions in the state, including the establishment of the Federal University of Science and Technology in southern Kaduna and the development of a federal medical centre, as factors likely to influence voter sentiment.
The governor stressed that Kaduna politics was not driven by personal sentiments, expressing respect for former governors and political leaders who had contributed to the state’s development.
“I don’t do politics of sentiments. I respect Nasir El-Rufai, I respect Makarfi, I respect Namadi Sambo. They have all done their best, but I am here to fight for APC,” he said.
Sani cautioned Nigerians against accepting unrealistic campaign promises without demanding clear details on funding mechanisms, urging voters to press candidates for practical solutions rather than rhetorical flourishes.
He dismissed the notion that presidential elections could be won through television appearances and social media campaigns alone, emphasising that successful political movements required robust grassroots structures.
“You don’t contest with the President by campaigning in Abuja,” he said, insisting that elections were won through consistent engagement with voters at the ward level.
The governor predicted that Tinubu would perform strongly across the Northwest, Northeast and North-Central regions, adding that the APC’s prospects in 2027 would hinge on its ability to communicate its achievements and maintain direct contact with the electorate.