El-Rufai, Shehu Sani absent at APC mega rally, as Lawal claims party rented crowd

Former governor of Kaduna State and the estranged godfather of the incumbent governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai was absent from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, mega rally in Kafanchan, Kaduna South Senatorial District.

The rally, which was well publicised, reportedly received over 22 prominent decampees from opposition political parties, amid a large turnout.

Also, ex-Senator and human rights activist, Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the 8th National Assembly, was also absent from the rally which the APC earlier boasted was going to be one of the biggest in political history of Kaduna State.

Senator Lawal Adamu Usman representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the 10th Senate was not only absent, but mocked the rally as ‘rented crowd’ which Governor Uba Sani embarked on as a face saving for the lack of support by the people.

The lawmaker believed that supporters who turned out for the rally on Friday were not organic and challenged the governor to conduct an election within the State to test his popularity.

In a post on his facebook wall on Saturday, Senator Lawal Adamu Usman wrote: “APC is like Papalolo in Kaduna State. If you truly knew you had the support of your rented crowd, why didn’t you allow the conduct of election in at least one ward within the State.

“Even the governor could not cast his vote at his polling station during the time”.

Meanwhile, in a statement which was obtained by DAILY POST on Saturday, issued by the Spokesperson of the governor of Kaduna State, Ibrahim Musa, he said political stalwarts from the three Senatorial Districts of Kaduna turned out in their number to reinforce their confidence in Senator Uba Sani-led administration.

The statement pointed out that defectors to the ruling party included serving and former Federal legislators, members of the state House of Assembly, former council chairpersons, state party chairpersons and flag bearers of opposition parties.