…Pledges not to betray zone 1
Yusuf Bala Ikara, an aspirant for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket to represent Kaduna North Senatorial District, popularly called Zone One, officially launched his campaign in Zaria on Wednesday.
Addressing a large crowd of supporters at the Zone’s headquarters, Ikara said what rural communities are demanding from the APC is “justice” in the candidate selection process, whether through consensus or primary elections.
“I know the job because I was a member of the Federal House of Representatives representing Ikara and Kubau Local Government Areas for eight years, so I know the job without any doubt,” Ikara said.
“I am truly assuring everyone that I am qualified to be a senator to represent the people of Zone One.”
The former lawmaker promised not to betray the trust of his constituents if elected. “You know, we rural people have two heads, one is for making a fuss and the other is for leaving, so it is important to know this at all times,” he told supporters.
Ikara urged APC members to mobilise at the grassroots and ensure they obtain the party’s membership card, which he said would be required to vote in the party’s nomination process.
He explained that voting would take place at ward headquarters across the eight local government areas, with party officials verifying the membership before participation.
“We are not criticising the Kaduna State Government, and we respect the Kaduna State Governor as the father of all in Kaduna State and the APC,” he said. “But what everyone is asking for is justice for the rural people in fielding candidates.”
Ikara described Zone One as the state’s highest-voting zone, noting that Zaria, Sabon Gari, Kubau, Ikara, Soba, Lere, Kudan, and Makarfi local government areas have consistently recorded strong voter turnout in past elections.
Speakers at the event, including senior APC politicians, business leaders, and retired civil servants from the zone, called on Governor Uba Sani’s administration to ensure fairness to rural communities in the party’s candidate selection.
Zone One comprises eight local government areas in northern Kaduna and is considered a key electoral bloc in the state.
