Senator Lawal Adamu Usman, representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, has criticized the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State, alleging that the party rented a crowd for its recent rally.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page on Saturday, February 15, Senator Usman took a swipe at the APC, likening the party to "Papalolo," a local comedian, implying that the party's popularity is artificial and staged. He challenged the APC to prove its support by conducting an election in at least one ward within the state.
"APC is like Papalolo in Kaduna State," Senator Usman wrote. "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".
The APC recently held a rally in Kafanchan, Kaduna South Senatorial District, to receive defectors from opposition parties. While the party claimed a large turnout and welcomed over 22 prominent figures from other parties, Senator Usman dismissed the display as a charade.
The Senator's statement comes amid reports of internal conflict within the Kaduna APC, including the absence of prominent figures like former Governor Nasir El-Rufai and Senator Shehu Sani at the rally. El-Rufai has recently criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration and called for a coalition of opposition parties to challenge the APC in the 2027 elections.
In response to the rally, Ibrahim Musa, the spokesperson for the Kaduna State Governor, issued a statement asserting that political leaders from all three senatorial districts of Kaduna State attended the rally, demonstrating their support for Governor Uba Sani's administration. The statement also highlighted that the defectors to the APC included current and former federal legislators, members of the state House of Assembly, former council chairpersons, state party chairpersons, and flag bearers of opposition parties.