The All Progressives Congress (APC) mega rally in Kafanchan, Kaduna South Senatorial District, on Saturday was marked by notable absentees, including former Governor Nasir El-Rufai and ex-Senator Shehu Sani.
El-Rufai is at odds with his estranged political godson and successor Governor Uba Sani.
The rally, which was touted to be one of the biggest in Kaduna State’s political history, drew a large crowd and over 22 prominent defectors from opposition parties.
However, Senator Lawal Adamu Usman, representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, was vocal in his criticism of the rally, describing it as a “rented crowd” and challenging Governor Sani to conduct an election within the state to test his popularity.
Senator Usman is a member of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
In a Facebook post, Senator Usman wrote: “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?” He also pointed out that Governor Sani could not even cast his vote at his polling station during the time.
In response, the Spokesperson of the Governor of Kaduna State, Ibrahim Musa, issued a statement highlighting the presence of political stalwarts from the three Senatorial Districts of Kaduna, who turned out to reinforce their confidence in Senator Uba Sani-led administration. The statement noted that defectors to the ruling party included serving and former Federal legislators, members of the state House of Assembly, former council chairpersons, state party chairpersons, and flag bearers of opposition parties.
