Why I Returned To APC – Shehu Sani

By Zara Maisango 

In a political move that has sparked widespread debate, former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has officially rejoined the All Progressives Congress (APC) after years of distancing himself from the party. His return marks a full-circle moment in his political career, having left the APC in 2018 following internal disputes, only to find his way back amidst shifting political dynamics in Kaduna State.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s "Hard Copy," Sani laid bare the reasons for his return, stating that the circumstances that drove him away from the party had significantly changed. A staunch critic of the previous Kaduna administration under Nasir El-Rufai, Sani had exited the APC in protest over what he described as an unfair primary election process. He subsequently joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under whose platform he contested for a senatorial seat in 2019 but lost to the current Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani.

However, on February 16, the firebrand activist-turned-politician formally rejoined the APC, alongside several defectors from both the PDP and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). His decision, he explained, was influenced by a series of reconciliation efforts led by the new Kaduna State Governor, who he credited for fostering a more inclusive and consultative political environment.

“The political atmosphere has changed,” Sani remarked. “In 2018, we left the APC because of certain circumstances, but those circumstances are no longer present. We have a new leadership in Kaduna that is reaching out to all stakeholders, making consultations, and building bridges.”

Sani, known for his fearless political stance and advocacy for good governance, described his return to the APC as a strategic decision rather than a mere political convenience. He acknowledged the role he played in founding the APC in Kaduna, recalling how he and others worked tirelessly to establish the party’s stronghold in the state ahead of the 2015 elections. His return, he insists, is in the spirit of moving forward and contributing positively to the party’s agenda.

Observers believe Sani’s return to the APC could reshape the political landscape in Kaduna, where factional struggles have often defined party politics. His influence and grassroots mobilization skills could prove invaluable to the party, especially in upcoming elections.

As Nigerian politics continues to evolve, Shehu Sani’s latest move underscores the ever-fluid nature of alliances and rivalries in the country's political sphere. Whether his return signals long-term stability within the APC or merely another chapter in his unpredictable political journey remains to be seen.