Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has projected a dramatic improvement in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s electoral performance in Kaduna State in the 2027 presidential election, saying the APC candidate could secure between 70 and 80 per cent of the votes.
Sani made the projection during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he addressed the political realignments taking place ahead of the next presidential election.
The governor rejected suggestions that Tinubu is facing widespread rejection in northern Nigeria, describing such narratives as largely driven by political discussions and social media activity rather than what he said was happening at the grassroots.
Sani declared that Tinubu would significantly improve on his 2023 performance in Kaduna.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will move from 29 per cent of votes to 70 to 80 per cent,” the governor said.
KADUNA’S 2023 RESULT
Sani’s prediction represents a substantial shift from the outcome of the 2023 presidential election in Kaduna.
Atiku Abubakar defeated Tinubu in the state during that election, recording 554,360 votes against Tinubu’s 399,293.
The governor argued that the political configuration in Kaduna has changed since then and that the factors that influenced the 2023 election should not automatically be expected to determine the outcome in 2027.
One factor he highlighted was the movement of political figures who previously operated within opposition parties into the APC.
He particularly pointed to developments in Southern Kaduna, where several politicians have moved closer to the ruling party.
SANI POINTS TO GOVERNMENT PROJECTS
The Kaduna governor also linked his prediction to what he described as the impact of federal government projects and interventions in the state.
Among the developments cited in reports of his comments are the Federal University of Science and Technology in Southern Kaduna and a federal medical centre.
Sani argued that voters would ultimately assess the Tinubu administration based on its performance and the impact of government policies and projects on their lives.
The governor’s prediction, however, remains a political projection rather than an electoral forecast based on an independent polling exercise.
THE 2027 NORTH
Kaduna will be one of the important northern battlegrounds in the 2027 presidential contest.
Tinubu won the national election in 2023, but his performance across the northern states varied considerably. The opposition is expected to make another strong push for the region in 2027, particularly amid the emergence of new political alliances and the movement of politicians between parties.
Sani’s comments therefore provide an indication of how the APC leadership in Kaduna views the evolving political landscape.
Whether the President can actually move from his 2023 performance to the 70–80 per cent range projected by Sani will ultimately depend on voter turnout, political alliances, campaign performance and the choices made by Kaduna voters on election day.