Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El Rufai, and a former Senator who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the 8th national Assembly, Shehu Sani, were conspicuously absent at the All Progressives Congress (APC) mega rally in Kafanchan, Kaduna South Senatorial District.
The State Governor, Uba Sani, at the rally received over 22 Chieftains who joined the governing party from the opposition.
However, former governor El Rufai (an APC member), and Senator Sani who joined the party on Friday, were yet to issue a statement on their absence at the time of filing this report.
A statement on Saturday by Spokesperson to the Governor, Ibrahim Musa, noted that political stalwarts from the three Senatorial Districts of Kaduna turned out in their numbers to reinforce their confidence in Senator Uba`s administration.
The statement pointed out that defectors to the ruling party include serving and former Federal legislators, members of the state House of Assembly, former council chairpersons, state party chairpersons and flag bearers of opposition parties.
Senator Lawal Adamu Usman representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the 10th Senate described the rally “as a face saving measure” by the State Governor, Uba Sani, who he alleged rented a crowd due to his lack of support in the state.
The lawmaker believed that supporters who turned out for the Friday rally were not organic and challenged the Governor to wait and test his popularity in the next election season.
In a post on his facebook wall on Saturday, Senator Usman said “APC is like Papalolo in Kaduna State. If you truly knew you had the support of your rented crowd, why didn’t you allow the conduct of election in at least one ward within the State.
“Even the Governor could not cast his vote at his polling station during the time,” he said.
Meanwhile, the state chapter of APC stated that “Governor Uba Sani has received over 22 political heavyweights from the opposition parties and their supporters, at the All Progressives Party, APC, zonal rally which was held at Kafanchan on Friday.
The event which held New Choice Hall, was witnessed by thousands of APC supporters from Southern Kaduna and political stalwarts from across the state, who passed a vote of confidence on the Uba Sani administration.”
