Uba Sani Backs Tinubu’s 2027 Re-Election Bid, Cites Benefits to Kaduna

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has declared his support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, citing federal projects, infrastructure funding and appointments he says have benefited the state.

Speaking in an interview with Trust TV’s Daily Politics, Sani said his support was driven by what the Tinubu administration had delivered to Kaduna rather than personal favours.

Asked whether he could take a bullet for the president because of the benefits received, the governor responded affirmatively.

“I can take it,” he said, adding that the president’s support was directed at Kaduna State rather than himself personally.

Sani said Tinubu facilitated the establishment of four federal universities in the state, secured federal appointments for Kaduna indigenes and approved funding for road construction, a proposed light rail project and additional compressed natural gas (CNG) buses.

The governor identified the institutions as the Federal University of Applied Science in Kachia, the Federal University of Education in Zaria, the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University of Petroleum Resources in Rigachikun, and the conversion of Kaduna Polytechnic into a federal university of technology.

He also cited federal appointments involving Defence Minister Christopher Musa, Environment Minister Balarabe Abbas and Shehu Dikko, whom he described as holding a significant role in the national sports administration. Sani said he had been instrumental in discussions with Tinubu concerning some of the appointments.

On road infrastructure, the governor said Tinubu had approved funding for the reconstruction of the 123-kilometre Kaduna-Birnin Gwari Road, which he described as having been abandoned for 45 years. According to Sani, the president had pledged to address the road during a 2022 campaign visit, and N178 billion had since been released for the project, with construction ongoing.

Sani also said funding had been approved for the reconstruction of the road linking Jama’a, Kwoi and Jere, which he said had deteriorated over several decades.

The governor further disclosed that the Federal Government had approved funding for a proposed 50-kilometre light rail corridor connecting Rigachikun to Sabon Tasha. He put the amount released for the Kaduna project at $865 million, which he said was worth more than N1.2 trillion, and added that Kaduna, Kano and Lagos had been included in the broader rail plans.

On public transportation, Sani said Kaduna initially planned to purchase 50 CNG buses but received federal support for an additional 50, bringing the total to 100 buses.

According to the governor, the buses recorded 5.2 million passenger trips over the preceding 18 months. He also claimed the transport scheme had saved workers, market women, artisans and other residents about N5 billion in transport expenses.

Sani maintained that these projects and interventions informed his decision to support Tinubu’s re-election bid, arguing that his political position reflected what he considered to be the interests of Kaduna State.