All major aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Kaduna Central senatorial district have stepped down in favour of Shehu Sani, who has now emerged as the party’s consensus candidate for the 2027 election.

The development followed the intervention of Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, who is regarded as the state leader of the party.

Party sources said the decision was reached after consultations among key stakeholders, bringing an end to what had earlier been projected as a fiercely contested race for the APC ticket in the district.

The emergence of Sani as the consensus candidate marks a significant shift from earlier permutations, which indicated that the contest would be one of the most competitive within the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Prior to the latest development, several prominent figures, including Yarima Shattima, Aminu Zaria, Yusuf Zailani, and Yusuf Hamisu (Mairago), had shown strong interest in the ticket, with internal alignments and political calculations already generating tension within party ranks.

Observers had noted that the race was intensifying partly due to the perceived crisis within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, which currently holds the seat, making the APC ticket highly coveted.

Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the Senate from 2015 to 2019, had long indicated interest in reclaiming the seat he lost in 2019 to Governor Uba Sani, who was then a political adviser to former governor Nasir El-Rufai.

His political journey within the APC has been marked by a period of estrangement following disagreements with the El-Rufai administration, which led to his defection to another party before eventually reconciling with the current APC leadership in the state.

The reconciliation, reportedly supported by President Bola Tinubu, restored Sani’s standing within the party and positioned him as a strong contender ahead of the 2027 elections.

Political analysts had earlier identified multiple factors that would determine the APC ticket, including internal party realignments, the influence of the state government, national party considerations, and grassroots support.

While Sani was widely regarded as having strong national connections, some observers had questioned his current grassroots appeal compared to other aspirants, particularly figures like Zailani, who is known for his local political base.

With the adoption of a consensus candidate, party insiders suggest that negotiations and possible compensations for other aspirants may have played a role in achieving unity within the APC in Kaduna State.

The consensus arrangement is expected to strengthen the party’s chances in the 2027 senatorial election, although analysts note that securing the ticket is only the first hurdle in what could still be a competitive race for the Kaduna Central seat.