By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
The Southern Kaduna All Progressives Congress (APC) Unity Forum has dismissed claims of internal crisis within the party in the zone, insisting that recent defections have instead strengthened its political base.
The forum, made up of both long-standing and new APC members, reaffirmed its loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, describing the party as united, focused and steadily expanding its influence across Southern Kaduna.
Addressing journalists at a press conference on Tuesday in Kaduna, the Chairman of the forum, Mr Edward Auta, said the APC remained firmly united under the theme, “One people, one party, one agenda.”
“We have come together to reaffirm our collective faith in the renewed direction of the APC under the focused and inclusive leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani,” Auta said.
According to him, the party has undergone a remarkable transformation, shedding earlier perceptions of exclusion and attracting unprecedented federal and state attention to Southern Kaduna.
“Major roads and social infrastructure are now receiving renewed attention, while federal presence in our zone has expanded significantly,” he said.
Auta cited the establishment of the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, and the Federal Medical Centre, Kafanchan, as concrete evidence of the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to the area.
“These are landmark institutions that reflect long-awaited federal attention to Southern Kaduna,” he added.
The forum also praised what it described as inclusive governance, noting that sons and daughters of Southern Kaduna now occupy strategic positions at both state and federal levels.
“Our people have been appointed into influential positions, including the Minister of Defence, the Head of Service of Kaduna State and the Executive Chairman of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service. This clearly shows that Southern Kaduna is no longer excluded,” Auta said.
He said the developments had made the APC increasingly attractive, leading to the defection of prominent politicians and political structures from opposition parties.
“Distinguished leaders, including Senator Sunday Marshall Katung, members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly and other political heavyweights, have joined the APC with their supporters and structures,” he said.
According to him, the defections have significantly altered the political landscape of Southern Kaduna.
“The APC has now emerged as the party of choice in the zone, effectively ending the decades-long dominance of the Peoples Democratic Party,” he stated.
Reacting to rumours of an impending implosion within the APC, Auta described such claims as baseless.
“These rumours are unfounded and amount to deliberate mischief or a misunderstanding of Governor Uba Sani’s unifying leadership philosophy,” he said.
He stressed that all APC members, both old and new, understood that personal ambition must remain secondary to collective interest and party stability.
Auta also defended Senator Katung’s loyalty to the party, noting that the lawmaker enjoys a cordial relationship with President Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani.
“It is well known that Senator Katung holds the President and the Governor in high esteem and has consistently called for unity and collective effort within the party,” he said.
The forum cautioned against attempts to overheat the polity with issues that could be resolved internally, urging APC members to remain disciplined and focused.
In conclusion, the Unity Forum called on all party stakeholders to mobilise massive support for the re-election of President Tinubu, Governor Uba Sani and all APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.
“United in purpose and guided by a shared vision, we are confident that the APC will emerge victorious at all levels,” Auta said.
