Some African Democratic Congress, ADC, members and supporters of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai have defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, and declared support for Governor Uba Sani.
The group, which comprises former ADC candidates, aspirants, party executives and more than 2,000 ward coordinators across Kaduna State, said its decision followed extensive consultations across the three senatorial districts. It also pledged to integrate its grassroots mobilisation structures into the APC.
The convener, Ibrahim Khalil Dan Kasa, a former ADC State Assembly candidate for Unguwan Sanusi Constituency, announced the decision while addressing journalists at the Nigeria Union of Journalists secretariat in Kaduna, citing dissatisfaction with the leadership of the El-Rufai Youth Movement and alleged marginalisation within the party as reasons for the defection.
He cited the alleged denial of party tickets to credible aspirants from the El-Rufai political camp, particularly in the Kawo and Doka/Gabasawa State Assembly constituencies.
He also accused the ADC leadership of failing to provide adequate support and protection for grassroots members.
Dan Kasa further criticised the camp of Isa Ashiru, the party’s governorship candidate, for allegedly failing to present a clear policy blueprint after seven months of political engagement.
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He said grassroots mobilisers had also been neglected in terms of logistics, security and welfare despite their contributions to the party’s activities. However, Dan Kasa said the group’s decision to leave the ADC did not diminish its respect for El-Rufai.
He commended Sani’s administration for what he described as its commitment to continuity, infrastructure development, social cohesion and youth inclusion.
According to him, the governor has sustained several projects initiated by the previous administration while expanding development interventions across Kaduna State’s 23 local government areas.
He also praised Sani for promoting religious and ethnic harmony and creating opportunities for young people to participate in governance.
The convener said the group would immediately integrate its grassroots structures and mobilisation machinery into the APC.
He pledged the group’s support for Sani’s administration and its development agenda, describing the defection as a step towards purposeful governance and political consolidation.
Dan Kasa added that the group was committed to supporting the governor’s programmes and contributing to peace and development in Kaduna State.
NAN
