Kaduna APC primaries: Power struggles, defections, battle for Northern political relevance

The recent primary elections of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Kaduna State, have once again exposed the deep cracks within northern politics, revealing fierce contests for influence, growing tensions among political blocs, and renewed debates over loyalty, zoning and power succession ahead of future national elections.

What was expected to be an internal party exercise quickly transformed into a political battlefield, producing winners and losers, but also reopening old rivalries that continue to shape Kaduna’s volatile political landscape.

Across several constituencies and senatorial districts, allegations of imposition, manipulation, intimidation and betrayal dominated political discussions, while party loyalists openly traded accusations over who controls the soul of the APC in Kaduna.

At the center of the unfolding drama is the struggle between established political heavyweights and emerging actors seeking relevance in the changing northern political order.

The primaries particularly highlighted the growing influence of Governor Uba Sani whose political structure appeared to dominate many of the party contests. Supporters of the governor described the outcome as evidence of political consolidation and stability within the APC, arguing that the party remains united under his leadership.

Read also: Sani consolidates Kaduna APC structure as Assembly leaders clean sweep primaries

However, critics within the party insist the primaries exposed widening dissatisfaction among aggrieved aspirants and loyalists who believe internal democracy is gradually weakening.

In Kaduna South Senatorial District, the contest involving Senator Katung generated significant attention after prominent aspirants reportedly protested aspects of the process. Similar concerns surfaced in some House of Representatives and state assembly primaries where accusations of unfair delegate selection and last-minute political alignments emerged.

For many political observers, the Kaduna APC primaries are not isolated events but reflections of broader northern political tensions currently reshaping the region.

Northern politics, once largely driven by consensus-building among elite power brokers, is increasingly becoming fragmented by competing interests, economic hardship, insecurity and generational change. Younger politicians now challenge traditional power structures, while established politicians struggle to retain influence in an environment where loyalty shifts rapidly.

Another major issue arising from the Kaduna primaries is the lingering division between loyalists of Nasir El-rufai and supporters of the current administration.

Though both leaders emerged from the same political family, political analysts believe differences in style, alliances and succession politics have gradually created factions within the Kaduna APC. The primaries therefore became more than electoral contests; they turned into tests of political dominance between competing camps seeking control ahead of future national calculations.

The situation also reflects wider northern anxieties over political relevance at the federal level. Since the emergence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, many northern politicians have been recalculating alliances to protect their interests within the ruling party.

Questions over power sharing, appointments, economic policies and regional influence continue to shape political maneuvering across the North. Kaduna, long regarded as one of the most politically strategic states in northern Nigeria, has now become a key battleground in that struggle.

Ethno-religious balancing also remains a sensitive factor in Kaduna politics. The state’s complex demographic structure often influences candidate selection and political negotiations. Political actors therefore carefully weigh religious identity, regional representation and ethnic considerations when building alliances.

Observers warn that failure to manage these sensitivities could deepen divisions within both the APC and the wider northern political establishment.

Beyond internal party disputes, the APC primaries also revealed growing voter frustration with economic realities facing ordinary Nigerians. Rising inflation, unemployment and insecurity have weakened public confidence in politicians across party lines.

Many citizens now question whether political contests are focused on governance or merely on control of state resources and political influence.

For the opposition parties, the APC’s internal disagreements may provide opportunities to mobilize dissatisfied members ahead of future elections. However, the opposition itself remains fragmented in Kaduna, making it uncertain whether it can fully capitalize on the ruling party’s internal troubles.

Despite the controversies, APC leaders continue to insist the primaries were largely successful and democratic. Party officials argue that disagreements are normal in every political process and that reconciliation efforts are ongoing to unite aggrieved members before future electoral contests.

Yet beneath the official statements lies a more complicated reality: Kaduna politics is changing rapidly, and the outcome of these internal battles may significantly influence the future direction of northern politics.

As political alignments continue to shift, Kaduna remains a critical laboratory for understanding the evolving nature of power, loyalty and survival in Nigeria’s northern political landscape.