Shehu Sani, Katung, Yero Win APC Kaduna Senatorial Primaries Amid Protest Over Alleged Irregularities

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Former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, alongside Sunday Marshall Katung and former Kaduna State governor Ramalan Mukhtar Yero, have emerged victorious in the All Progressives Congress senatorial primaries held across Kaduna State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Katung secured the APC ticket for Kaduna South after defeating former Senator Danjuma Tella Laah and Michael Ayuba Auta in a primary election conducted across the district’s eight local government areas.

Announcing the results at the collation centre in Jema’a Local Government Area on Monday, Returning Officer John Laah of the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, described the exercise as peaceful, transparent and credible.

According to the results, Katung polled 7,453 votes, while Danjuma Laah secured 1,370 votes and Auta scored 878 votes.

The returning officer noted that delegates from Kagarko, Sanga, Kauru, Zangon Kataf, Kaura, Jema’a, Jaba and Kachia participated peacefully in the exercise. He also commended party officials and security agencies for ensuring a smooth process.

In Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani staged a political comeback after polling 9,105 votes to defeat Yusuf Zailani, who scored 1,021 votes. Yerima Shettima, despite withdrawing from the race earlier, still received 1,253 votes.

Shehu Sani represented Kaduna Central in the Senate between 2015 and 2019 before losing the APC ticket in 2018 to current Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani.

Reacting to his victory, Shehu Sani thanked President Bola Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani for their support and confidence in his candidacy.

He also appreciated delegates and constituents for what he described as another opportunity to seek representation for Kaduna Central, while calling on party members and former aspirants to unite ahead of the general elections.

Meanwhile, Ramalan Yero emerged victorious in the Kaduna North APC senatorial primary after polling 6,060 votes to defeat Muazu Mukaddas, who scored 1,044 votes, and Engineer Bala Ikara, who secured 362 votes.

Despite the victories recorded by the three candidates, the primaries were overshadowed by controversy as a coalition of aggrieved aspirants led by Danjuma Laah rejected the process, alleging irregularities and the imposition of consensus candidates during the APC senatorial and House of Representatives primaries.

The development is expected to deepen internal tensions within the Kaduna APC as preparations intensify for the 2027 elections.