Kaduna in Turmoil: Inside the Silent Power Struggles Rocking APC Under Uba Sani’s Administration.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu Democracy Newsline January 31, 2026
Barely months into Governor Uba Sani’s tenure, quiet but consequential cracks are beginning to show within the All Progressives Congress (APC) power structure in Kaduna State.
What initially appeared as routine administrative reshuffling has now evolved into a series of resignations, internal disputes, and elite discontent that insiders say could reshape the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
At the center of the latest controversy is the sudden resignation of Alhaji El-Sa’eed Yakubu Lere, Chairman of the Board of Kaduna State Media Corporation (KSMC), who stepped down just three months after his appointment.
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Yakubu Lere’s exit was swift and largely unexplained in official terms. However, multiple sources familiar with KSMC operations suggest that the resignation followed sustained friction between the Board Chairman and the Managing Director, Hon. Ben Kure.
According to insiders, the disagreement revolved around appointments, promotions, and operational control, with Yakubu Lere reportedly feeling sidelined in decisions traditionally overseen by the board.
Sources allege that key managerial decisions were taken without his input, undermining his authority and rendering his role largely ceremonial.
More politically sensitive is the claim that Governor Uba Sani himself was accused—privately, not publicly—of failing to clearly define the board’s powers, allowing parallel chains of command to flourish within the state media outfit.
What makes the episode particularly significant is Yakubu Lere’s long-standing personal and political relationship with Governor Sani. His resignation has therefore been interpreted by many party watchers as a sign of deeper governance and communication problems within the administration.
Yakubu Lere’s resignation did not occur in isolation.
Earlier, Dr. Sani Bello, Commissioner for Information, also stepped down, a move that surprised many within government circles. Bello was later replaced by Alhaji Ahmed Maiyaki, himself a former Managing Director of KSMC—raising questions about internal recycling of political actors amid unresolved institutional conflicts.
Sources close to the Ministry of Information claim Bello felt increasingly marginalized, with strategic communication decisions allegedly handled outside his office. His departure, according to insiders, marked the first clear sign of a disconnect between the governor and key policy drivers in his cabinet.
Elite Discontent Within APC
Beyond the media sector, disquiet appears to be spreading within APC’s inner circles.
One of the most consequential exits was that of Professor Muhammad Sani Bello, widely regarded as one of the intellectual and strategic pillars behind Uba Sani’s 2023 electoral success. Party insiders say Bello’s resignation stemmed from policy disagreements and perceived exclusion from decision-making, rather than personal ambition.
For APC stakeholders, this departure was particularly alarming: Bello was not just an appointee but a bridge between party ideology, technocratic governance, and grassroots mobilization.
The Mairago Factor and Power Centralization Claims
Another recurring theme in the unfolding crisis is the reported influence of Alhaji Yusuf Hamisu (Mairago), the powerful Special Adviser to the Governor.
Several sources allege that Mairago’s office has become a parallel power center, influencing appointments, contracts, and political alignments. This has reportedly created resentment among commissioners and board chairmen who feel bypassed in favor of informal decision-making channels.
While the government has not officially responded to these claims, insiders say friction between elected officials and unelected advisers has become a defining challenge of the administration.
Lingering El-Rufai Shadows
Complicating matters further are allegations that some appointees maintain quiet political ties with former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, whose departure from office marked a significant transition in Kaduna’s political order.
These perceived divided loyalties have fueled suspicion within the APC, with some loyalists questioning whether the current administration has fully consolidated control of party structures inherited from its predecessor.
Despite the elite-level turbulence, the APC has continued to record notable by-election victories across Kaduna State, suggesting that Governor Uba Sani retains significant grassroots support.
Political analysts argue that the governor’s strength lies in local mobilization, welfare-oriented rhetoric, and rural party structures, which may insulate him from the immediate impact of high-profile resignations.
However, history within Nigerian politics shows that elite defections often precede grassroots fragmentation if left unmanaged.
With reports suggesting that more resignations could be imminent, the Uba Sani administration faces a critical test: whether it can recalibrate internal governance, clarify power structures, and rebuild trust within its own party ranks.
For APC in Kaduna, the challenge is not yet electoral collapse—but internal cohesion. How the governor handles dissent, reconciles factions, and reasserts institutional order may determine whether these early warning signs become a full-blown political crisis by 2027.
For now, Kaduna watches—and waits…….
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, JANUARY 31ST 2026)
