El-rufai, Ashiru, Magaji, 4 others to seek Kaduna APC ticket

Indications have emerged that seven persons are set to contest the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State.

Daily Trust gathered that former deputy governor of Kaduna State, James Bawa Magaji, Former FCT Minister, Nasir El-rufai, Rep. Ashiru Kudan, Group Capt. Bala Zaza Gora, Sani Shaában, Rep. Samsudeen Ango Abdullahi and Sen. Dati- Baba-Ahmed are at the forefront of the race to clinch the APC ticket.

Party stakeholders however say the inability of the party to harmonize the interest of the aspirants who are all influential in the party ahead of the primaries may spell doom for the APC in Kaduna.

Though some of the aspirants have been operating underground, it was gathered that almost all of them are serious about getting the ticket as the APC is believed to stand a good chance of winning Kaduna in 2015.

One of the aspirants, Magaji, when contacted, cinfirmed his interest saying he is the most experienced among the aspirants.

Magaji said as a former deputy governor of the state, picking an APC ticket means he has won the governorship election in Kaduna State.

“We have the supporters at the grassroots. And with the experience we have about governance of a diverse state like Kaduna, winning the election will not be a problem if I get the ticket and am hoping that I will secure it,” Magaji said.

Former vice chairman of Kaduna South Local Government, Ezekiel Baba Karik, confirmed Kudan’s interest in vying for the APC guber ticket.

Baba-Karik said among the contestants that have shown interest, delegates will be looking for a candidate that will be sellable at the grassroots.

Mikaih Sheila, a strong supporter of Basil El-rufai candidacy, who is also in the same camp with Abubakar Hunky a national officer of the APC from North-West, said the former FCT Minister was very much in the race adding that there was no going back.

Mikaih said APC was a very strong party in Kaduna adding that with El-rufai as the candidate, they are sure of wining the gubernatorial election in Kaduna State comes 2015.

“We are hoping that El-Rufai emerged as APC candidate. There is no going back because El-rufai is a credible candidate and we will ensure that he gets the APC ticket,”Mikaih added.