Yerima Shettima, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and aspirant for the Kaduna Central Senatorial District, has kicked against alleged moves to impose a consensus candidate for the district ahead of the 2027 elections. He that such could work against party’s cohesion and electoral prospects.

Shettima in a statement sent to BusinessDay, alleged that a consensus arrangement was capable of creating internal divisions within the APC and weakening support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the state.

He pointed out that Kaduna Central remains politically strategic to the APC and must not be subjected to “undemocratic practices” capable of alienating loyal party members and grassroots supporters.

The APC aspirant, who claimed to enjoy significant support across the seven local government areas in the senatorial district, criticised the reported endorsement of former lawmaker Shehu Sani as a consensus candidate, describing it as a move that could undermine internal democracy within the party.

He warned that denying aspirants the opportunity to test their popularity through transparent primaries would weaken confidence in the party’s internal processes and generate bad blood within the APC family.

He believed that only a credible and transparent primary election would produce a candidate with the legitimacy required to galvanise support for the APC in the district and strengthen the re-election prospects of President Tinubu.

He also urged the national leadership of the APC, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani and other stakeholders to guarantee a level playing field for all aspirants contesting the Kaduna Central senatorial ticket.

The aspirant advocated the adoption of direct primaries, insisting that party members should be allowed to freely choose the party’s candidate.

He further vowed to resist any attempt to impose a candidate through all lawful political and legal channels, while reaffirming his loyalty to the APC and support for the administrations of President Tinubu and Governor Sani.

Shettima stressed that free and credible primaries remained essential to preserving party unity, strengthening internal democracy and ensuring electoral victory for the APC in Kaduna Central and beyond.

“We strongly reject the so-called consensus arrangement in its entirety. Kaduna Central cannot be sacrificed on the altar of political manipulation and backroom deals,” Shettima declared.