As the 2027 general elections continue to draw closer, Dateline Nigeria takes a look at the struggle for the APC ticket for Kaduna North Senatorial District
The All Progressives Congress (APC) primary for Kaduna North in 2027 is shaping up as a two-horse race between former Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero and former Senator Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi. With Speaker Abbas Tajudeen seemingly out of the race and no third force emerging, the battle will be decided by three factors: governor’s influence, party structure, and the legacy of the El-Rufai era.
Yero’s Advantage: Governor’s Backing and Party Structure
Yero’s formal declaration was immediately backed by all eight LG chairmen in the zone, a clear signal that he has the support of Governor Uba Sani’s administration. In Kaduna politics, LG chairmen control grassroots mobilization and delegate lists, making their endorsement a heavyweight asset in any primary.
Yero also benefits from his alignment with Uba Sani’s “inclusive governance” agenda. Since 2023, the governor has overseen a wave of defections into APC, giving the party control of 13 out of 16 federal constituencies and 26 of 34 state assembly seats. Soba LGA stakeholders, for example, have credited Uba Sani’s rural road and water projects for strengthening APC’s base in Zone 1. That goodwill could translate into delegate loyalty for Yero.
Crucially, the Kaduna North APC stakeholders’ meeting in Zaria last year endorsed Tinubu, Uba Sani, and Speaker Abbas for continuity. Yero’s alignment with this bloc positions him as the “unity candidate” who won’t disrupt the governor’s 2027 plan to deliver 95% of Kaduna’s votes to APC.
Hunkuyi’s Strength: Experience and Name Recognition
Hunkuyi is no political lightweight. He represented Kaduna North from 2015 to 2019 and previously served as Kudan LG chairman and Commissioner of Finance under Governor Ahmed Makarfi. His base in Kudan and Zaria remains intact, and his history with both PDP and APC gives him cross-party appeal.
His 2023 gubernatorial run under NNPP also kept his name in circulation, and his recent return to APC in February 2025 signals he’s serious about reclaiming relevance. As a National Commissioner at NASC, he retains access to Abuja power circles.
But Hunkuyi’s biggest hurdle is his fallout with former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, which cost him the Senate seat in 2019. While El-Rufai’s influence in APC has waned since Uba Sani took over, Hunkuyi’s past clashes with the party establishment could still make some delegates wary.
The Uba Sani Factor: Neutrality vs. Reality
Governor Uba Sani has publicly denied endorsing any aspirant, insisting he’s committed to a transparent and inclusive process. But political observers note that the LG chairmen’s unanimous backing of Yero rarely happens without the governor’s nod.
Uba Sani’s priority is party unity and a landslide for Tinubu in 2027. Backing Yero, a former governor with fewer political enemies than Hunkuyi, reduces the risk of a protracted primary that could fracture APC ahead of the general election.
Zone 1 Political Dynamics
Kaduna North, or Zone 1, is APC’s safest zone in the state. The party has consolidated control here through federal appointments and infrastructure projects, including the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano highway and the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline. With little opposition presence, the real contest will be within APC itself.
Yero’s narrative of “competence and capacity” resonates with a segment of voters tired of personality-driven politics. Hunkuyi, on the other hand, appeals to APC members who want a return to the party’s original grassroots structure before the El-Rufai dominance.
The Outlook For Now
APC’s leadership has been pushing unity ahead of 2027. A drawn-out fight could weaken the party, so expect pressure for a consensus candidate. If that happens, Yero’s current momentum makes him the likely consensus choice.
As it stands, Yero has the institutional advantage — governor’s goodwill, LG structure, and alignment with the Tinubu-Sani-Abbas axis. Hunkuyi has the political pedigree and personal network but must overcome perceptions of being an outsider after years in and out of APC.
Unless Hunkuyi can fracture the LG chairman bloc or secure direct federal intervention, Yero is positioned as the front-runner. But in Kaduna politics, nothing is final until the ballot is cast, and Hunkuyi’s experience means he can’t be written off.
