Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has explained why he rejoined the All Progressives Congress (APC) after previously leaving for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Sani initially left the APC in October 2018 due to disagreements over the party’s primaries. He later joined the PDP, where he secured a senatorial ticket but lost the 2019 election to Uba Sani, who is now the governor of Kaduna State.

On February 16, he officially returned to the APC along with some members of the PDP and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kaduna.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Hard Copy on Friday, Sani said his decision was influenced by reconciliation efforts led by the Kaduna State governor. “A lot of us left APC in 2018 due to certain issues, but those circumstances have now changed,” he said.

He recalled being a founding member of the APC in Kaduna, helping to build the party’s structures and campaign for the 2015 elections at both the senatorial and governorship levels. However, things happened between him and then-Governor Nasir El-Rufai, leading to his exit from the party.

“Our disagreements were political, personal, and related to state matters,” he explained. “Now, we have a new governor who has been reaching out, consulting, and trying to unify people across the state. After discussions, we agreed to return to the party we originally helped build in Kaduna.”

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and other key northern figures have pushed back against a call by APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje for the North to hold off on contesting the presidency until 2031.

Ganduje made the statement while hosting a delegation from the Tinubu Media Centre and the Tinubu Northern Youth Forum at the APC headquarters in Abuja. He argued that since former President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner, served two terms, it would only be fair for President Bola Tinubu to complete eight years as well.

However, northern leaders strongly disagreed. ACF’s National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, dismissed Ganduje’s stance, calling it an attempt to impose loyalty in a way that does not reflect democratic values.

He made it clear that voters cannot be pressured into supporting a candidate. “What he said is just his opinion. Voters will decide whether to accept, reject, or modify it.

In 2015, people were sold promises of anti-corruption and other things, only to realize later that they weren’t true. Then, in 2023, ‘Renewed Hope’ was introduced, but for many, that hope is now turning into a nightmare,” he said.

The Labour Party has confirmed that Peter Obi will once again be its presidential candidate in the 2027 elections.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, made it clear that the next election won’t be an easy ride for President Tinubu.

“Tinubu won’t have it easy in 2027. We are bringing Peter Obi back to show how serious we are,” he said.

Arabambi also addressed the recent departure of actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo from the party.

He dismissed Okonkwo’s exit as a relief, claiming the former spokesperson was never truly loyal to the Labour Party and had been working in favour of the APC and President Tinubu.

“We wish Kenneth Okonkwo well, but his resignation is good riddance to bad rubbish. He should stop talking about the Labour Party,” Arabambi added.

He further dismissed claims of a leadership crisis in the party, insisting that the Labour Party is not in turmoil and will remain a strong force ahead of the next election.