In an interesting buildup of political activities towards the 2023 elections in Kaduna State, a top contender for the state’s governorship seat, Sani Dattijo, has withdrawn from the race, just as the current Deputy Governor, Hadiza Balarabe, rejects deputy offer under El-Rufai’s choice governorship candidate, Senator Uba Sani.
Dattijo, a former chief of staff to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, withdrew from the race, following the endorsement of his rival, Uba Sani, by the governor.
Dependable sources told Daylight Reporters that at an emergency cabinet stakeholders meeting summoned by El-Rufai, Wednesday, 4th May, the governor tabled the issue of consensus candidate before the select group of stakeholders.
Personalities at the meeting include the Deputy Governor, Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe; the SSG, Balarabe Abbas Lawal; the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Yusuf Zailani; the Senator representing Kaduna Central, Uba Sani; former Chief of Staff to the Governor, Sani Dattijo, among other trusted stakeholders.
Sources quoted the governor as revealing that his initial preference for successor was his deputy, Hadiza Balarabe, but dropped the idea after wide consultations with religious and political leaders and other relevant stakeholders.
El-Rufai, according to the source, said that since Hadiza Balarabe might not be saleable, he proposed Sen. Sani as the consensus candidate.
The governor consequently made some political realignments, and asked Hadiza Balarabe to continue as Sen. Sani’s running mate, an offer she, reportedly, rejected on the spot.
The governor then directed Sani Dattijo to switch constituency and aspire for Kaduna Central Senatorial seat.
Dattijo, reportedly, immediately accepted the governor’s offer in good faith.
In a message shared to his campaign platforms on Wednesday night, Dattijo said he accepted the governor’s decision as the will of God, promising to support the consensus candidate to victory.
While members of the governor’s kitchen cabinet had accepted El-Rufai’s decision, it is however not clear whether other aspirants such as the managing director of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Bashir Jamo and former chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, Abdullahi Mukhtar, will accept it.
