- Sen Sunday Katung emerges in Kaduna South
- Sen Shehu Sani secures ticket in Kaduna Central
Former Governor of Kaduna State, Mukhtar Yero, has clinched the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for the Kaduna North Senatorial District.
This is as Senator Shehu Sani and Senator Sunday Marshall Katung also bagged decisive primary victories by comfortably sweeping aside their rivals to secure the ruling party’s tickets for the Kaduna Central and Kaduna South senatorial districts Arespectively
To emerge winner of primary election held on Monday in Zaria, Yero defeated two other aspirants to emerge the APC flag bearer ahead of the 2027 general election
The Returning Officer, Hassan Saleh, who announced the result, said Yero amased 6,060 votes to defeat Muhammad Mu’azu Mukaddas, who polled 1,044 votes, and Yusuf Bala Ikara, who got 372 votes.
He said: “I, Hassan Saleh, the Returning Officer of the APC Kaduna North Senatorial District primary election, having certified the provisions of the law, hereby declare Mukhtar Ramalan Yero as the winner of this election.”
Yero, who spoke shortly after the exercise, commended party members and stakeholders for the peaceful conduct of the primary election, even as he also extended a hand of fellowship to his co-contestants.
The former Governor, while challenging party members to unite ahead of the 2027 general elections, said: “We must work together for the overall victory of our great party in the forthcoming general elections,” Yero said.
He appreciated party supporters and stakeholders for the confidence reposed in him, and pledged to provide quality representation if elected, saying: “I thank party supporters and stakeholders for the confidence they have shown in me. I will reciprocate the gesture by representing the people positively.”
Yero was Kaduna State governor between December 15, 2012, and May 29, 2015, following the death of former governor Patrick Yakowa in a helicopter crash in Bayelsa State.
Stepping into the State’s highest executive office with years of institutional expertise, he previously served as Deputy Governor in 2010 and had earlier expertly navigated the waters as the State Commissioner for Finance from 2007 to 2010.
His time in office was characterized by resilience and steady leadership, as he steered the state through a tumultuous period fraught with security crises and intense political competition ahead of the 2015 polls.
However, Yero eventually lost the 2015 governorship election to former Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai of the APC, after which he maintained a relatively low political profile before re-emerging in the current political dispensation.
With the victory, the stage is now set for a battle royale and the rekindling of fierce political contest in the Kaduna North Senatorial District as parties intensify preparations for the general elections come 2027.
Sen Katung Overwhelms Sen Laah In Kaduna South
In Kaduna South Senatorial District, Senator Sunday Marshall Katung emerged winner of the APC primary election, defeating former Senator Danjuma Tella Laah and Engineer Michael Ayuba Auta in a keenly contested exercise conducted across the eight local government areas of the district.
Announcing the results at the collation centre in Jema’a Local Government Area on Monday, the Returning Officer, Professor John Laah of the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, said the exercise peaceful, transparent and credible.
According to him, the primary election was conducted across Kagarko, Sanga, Kauru, Zangon Kataf, Kaura, Jema’a, Jaba and Kachia local government areas, with delegates voting for the three aspirants seeking the party’s ticket.
He stated that Katung polled a total of 7,513 votes to emerge winner of the contest while former Senator Tella Laah came second with 1,370 votes, with Engr. Michael Auta coming a distant third with 878 votes.
The results’ breakdown indicated that Katung secured 985 votes in Kagarko, 588 in Sanga, 1,348 in Kauru, 815 in Zangon Kataf, 1,029 in Kaura, 1,113 in Jema’a, 570 in Jaba and 1,005 in Kachia local government areas.
It’s Shehu Sani in Kaduna Central
The primary contest in Kaduna Central Senatorial District saw Senator Shehu Sani sweeping to victory in style by defeating former Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Yusuf Zailani, and another aspirant, Shettima on Monday.
Announcing the results, the Returning Officer, Sameera Ibrahim, said Shehu Sani polled 9,105 votes to secure the APC ticket while Zailani got 1,021 votes, and Shettima polled 1,253 votes.
According to her, the exercise as peaceful and transparent, commending party delegates and officials for their orderly conduct during the election.
The victory marks a major political comeback for Shehu Sani, who previously represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly and is widely known for his activism and outspoken views on governance, democracy and social justice.
Meanwhile, political commentators are already calling the primary outcome as a significant development within the Kaduna State chapter of APC ahead of the general elections, considering the calibre of aspirants that are currently lining up to do battle come 2027 polls.
