Kaduna 2027 Senate race intensifies as defections from PDP to APC and ADC reshape the political balance across Kaduna Central, North, and South
As political actors intensify manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general election, Kaduna State is emerging as a critical battleground where shifting alliances and defections are redefining the senatorial race landscape.
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Although parties have yet to hold primaries, ongoing cross-party movements are already influencing expectations, with analysts suggesting that current alignments rather than last-minute surprises may ultimately determine outcomes across the three senatorial districts.
The political environment has notably shifted from the 2023 election cycle, when voters largely followed established party loyalties.
While the All Progressives Congress retained the governorship after the tenure of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, the People’s Democratic Party swept all three senatorial seats Kaduna Central, Kaduna North, and Kaduna South marking a rare opposition dominance in the state’s Senate representation.
Since then, however, defections have significantly altered the balance of power. Two PDP senators, Sunday Marshall Katung and Lawal Adamu Usman, have left the party, leaving Senator Khalid Soba as the only PDP senator from Kaduna State.
Katung has since joined the APC, while Usman moved to the African Democratic Congress, citing internal crises within the PDP as a major factor in their decisions.
Kaduna North is shaping up to be a particularly competitive zone, with former Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero and former Senator Suleiman Uthman Hunkuyi emerging as leading contenders for the APC ticket.
Both candidates bring significant political experience, grassroots networks, and institutional influence, setting the stage for a closely watched primary contest.
In Kaduna Central, the race is expected to be highly competitive, with several APC heavyweights including Shehu Sani, Yerima Shettima, and Yusuf Zailani vying for the party’s nomination.
The eventual APC candidate is likely to face Senator Lawal Adamu Usman of the ADC in the general election, setting up a high-stakes contest between established political figures and emerging challengers.
Kaduna South, once considered a PDP stronghold, is also witnessing a shift toward the APC following the defection of Senator Sunday Marshall Katung. The zone now features multiple APC aspirants, including Katung himself, former Senator Danjuma La’ah, Amos Gwamna Magaji, Joseph Ciroma, and Michael Ayuba Auta.
With no strong opposition figure currently emerging, the APC primary is expected to play a decisive role in determining the eventual winner.
Analysts note that the APC appears to hold a strategic advantage across the state, bolstered by defections, growing internal consolidation, and increased political interest among aspirants.
However, concerns remain that unresolved internal disputes after primaries could still influence outcomes in the general election.
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As 2027 approaches, Kaduna State is set for a fiercely contested political season where party strength, candidate appeal, and strategic realignments will play defining roles in shaping the Senate race across all three districts.
