Kaduna State is currently facing what appears to be one of its deepest political and administrative crises in recent years, as mass resignations, internal discontent, and allegations of corruption and nepotism continue to trail Governor Uba Sani’s administration.
The recent resignations of two key political allies of the governor, Professor Sani Bello, a former commissioner for Information and director-general of the 2023 gubernatorial campaign, and Benjamin Jock, a former Senior Special Assistant on Infrastructure, have sent shockwaves through the political landscape of the state.
Their exits, while quiet, are seen as a major symbolic blow, highlighting a growing breakdown in the once tightly held political structure that helped bring Uba Sani to power.
Their departures are not isolated. Several other senior government officials and political appointees who were instrumental to the governor’s campaign and early governance efforts have also left the administration.
Among them are Dr. Shehu Makarfi, former Commissioner for Education and Local Government, Barrister Chris Umar, SAN, who resigned as Deputy Chief of Staff on Legal and Legislative Matters, and Umar Hassan Waziri, a former Deputy Chief of Staff.
Insiders describe a toxic work environment where appointees are routinely micromanaged, humiliated, and stripped of responsibility, with many choosing to either resign quietly or remain in office without playing active roles.
Sources within Sir Kashim Ibrahim House say the atmosphere in the governor’s cabinet is tense and fractured.
Several commissioners are said to have tendered their resignations informally or are preparing to work against the governor’s re-election campaign in 2027.
A growing number of officials have reportedly vowed to “pay him back” for what they describe as betrayal, insults, and poor treatment.
There are also allegations of verbal abuse within the administration, with one commissioner reportedly collapsing in tears after being subjected to intense ridicule by the governor.
Beyond the human resource crisis, there are growing concerns about how the government is being run.
Many of the governor’s closest allies from the campaign period now say they have been sidelined, while individuals who opposed him during the 2023 election have been rewarded with key appointments.
This, political observers say, has eroded trust within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), especially at the grassroots level.
In Kaduna North, which is Governor Sani’s home base, several ward executives and party members have reportedly resigned over the last two months, leaving the governor increasingly politically isolated.
The discontent has been further inflamed by what many see as reckless political missteps.
A recent visit by the governor to retired General Zamani Lekwot, whom he described as an “elder statesman,” has been met with sharp criticism, particularly from Muslim communities who still hold the general responsible for the 1992 Zangon Kataf crisis.
Critics saw the visit as a betrayal by a governor who campaigned on a Muslim-Muslim ticket and rode on the back of strong northern support.
Internally, governance appears to be slipping into chaos.
Several ministries are reported to be inactive, lacking clear direction or budgetary control.
The governor is accused of creating new ministries, including those of Youth Development, Humanitarian Affairs, and Information, without due process, legislative approval, or official gazettes.
In one particularly controversial move, a commissioner-designate was allowed to attend the State Executive Council meeting without undergoing the legally required screening and swearing-in process.
Allegations of large-scale financial mismanagement
During a recent address to clerics in Kaduna, Governor Sani admitted that local governments receive about N100 million monthly, which amounts to about N2.3 billion across 23 LGAs.
However, FAAC records show that Kaduna LGAs receive well over ₦12 billion monthly.
This has led to growing suspicions that as much as N9.7 billion is unaccounted for each month.
Critics argue that under former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, local governments were empowered to execute infrastructure projects.
Today, those councils are reportedly inactive, with no visible projects or presence in communities.
The quality of infrastructure under the current administration is also being questioned.
Roads recently built have reportedly collapsed under the first rains, raising concerns about substandard work and lack of oversight.
This is a sharp contrast to projects delivered under El-Rufai’s tenure, which remain largely intact.
Insiders also allege that the Kaduna State Executive Council has been reduced to a ceremonial body that simply ratifies pre-approved contracts awarded from the governor’s office.
A recent Exco meeting reportedly lasted just 25 minutes and featured no open disclosures about project costs, contractor identities, or timelines. One of the projects, Romi-Karadu Road, was previously launched in 2023 but reappeared as a new contract, raising suspicions of double billing. Additionally, a ₦5.2 billion fertiliser procurement deal is believed to have been inflated, with less than a quarter of the agreed quantity actually delivered.
There is also growing concern over the lack of continuity in government when the governor travels.
According to civil servants, even minor expenditures are frozen in his absence, as no one dares to make approvals without his personal consent.
This has left ministries paralyzed during his frequent trips to Abuja and overseas.
In the midst of all this, Governor Uba Sani is reportedly lobbying quietly for national political positioning, with rumours suggesting he harbours ambitions to be considered as a vice-presidential candidate should a shake-up occur at the federal level.
However, insiders say that the president’s inner circle is well aware of the turbulence in Kaduna and the growing rebellion among his former supporters.
Governor Sani has also been accused of nepotism on a large scale, appointing more than 40 relatives and close friends to key government positions, including commissioners, advisers, directors, and special assistants.
This, critics argue, has created an echo chamber where dissent is suppressed and incompetence thrives.
With the 2027 elections drawing closer, political observers believe that Governor Uba Sani may face a strong backlash, not only from opposition parties but from within his own camp.
If the current trajectory continues, he may go into the next polls without the support of the political machinery that once carried him to victory.
What was once seen as a promising administration is now mired in controversy, allegations of betrayal, and administrative collapse.
Whether Governor Sani can steer the ship back on course remains to be seen, but for now, many in Kaduna feel abandoned, disillusioned, and ready for change.
