2 battle El-Rufai for Kaduna North Reps APC ticket

With the primary election to select candidates for variuos elective positions close at hand, three key personalities are currently locked in the race for the Kaduna North House of Representatives ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC). They are Abdulazeez Kaka, Samaila Sulaiman, and Bello El-Rufai. Analysts says each comes with different type of influence.. […]

With the primary election to select candidates for variuos elective positions close at hand, three key personalities are currently locked in the race for the Kaduna North House of Representatives ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

They are Abdulazeez Kaka, Samaila Sulaiman, and Bello El-Rufai.

Analysts says each comes with different type of influence..

Kaka is a politician, businessman, and youth advocate. He founded the ‘Kowa Namu Ne’Foundation, which focuses on empowering young people through training, mentorship, and financial support.

Due to these efforts, Kaka has built a strong reputation at the grassroots level as many young people see him as a practical leader who focuses on long-term empowerment instead of short-term political promises.

His support for the policies of Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Uba Sani, the governor of Kaduna State, has also strengthened his position within the APC.

Another advantage for Kaka is that he is new to elective politics. Unlike many traditional politicians, he has never held an elected office. This gives him the image of a fresh political figure with new ideas. His reported closeness to Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Tinubu, is also believed to have increased his visibility and connections at the national level.

Samaila Sulaiman is also an important political figure in the constituency. He previously served as the member representing Kaduna North in the House of Representatives after winning elections in 2015 and 2019.

He became known for his strong grassroots connections and generosity, which helped him build a loyal political base.

Before the 2023 general election, Sulaiman left the APC for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after disagreements with former governor Nasir El-Rufai. 

He later lost the election but has since returned to the APC. He also resigned from his position as Special Adviser on Infrastructure to Governor Uba Sani recently so he can focus on contesting again for the House of Representatives seat in the next election.

The current representative of Kaduna North is Bello El-Rufai, the son of former governor Nasir El-Rufai. He won the 2023 election under the APC banner with more than 51,000 votes. Bello is seen as an intelligent and ambitious young politician who studied abroad.

The strained relationship between his father and Governor Uba Sani has created some uncertainty within the APC structure in Kaduna North. Some political observers believe this tension could affect Bello’s chances of securing the party’s ticket in the primaries.

The race for the ticket promises to be keen as Sulaiman is viewed as representing experience, El-Rufai as one with a strong political background  and Kaka as a new political force.

As alliances continue to shift within the APC and across Kaduna State, political competition in Kaduna North is expected to grow stronger. In the many factors that will come into play will  determine who gets the party’s ticket..