*COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE SOUTHERN KADUNA RENAISSANCE FRONT’S 2025 YOUNG PERSONS POLITICAL CONFERENCE HELD IN KADUNA ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2025*

The Southern Kaduna Renaissance Front (SKRF) 2025 Young Persons Political Conference, held on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, under the distinguished chairmanship of Builder Dr. Monday Barau Madaki, FNIOB, brought together young leaders, community representatives, and stakeholders to deliberate on the theme “Charting a Path to 2027: Alignment or Opposition to the Centre.” The deliberations were led by Dr. Philibus Nwamagyi Audu and Mr. Luka Binniyat and the conference extensively discussed the benefits and demerits of aligning with the centre and resolved as follows:

1. Southern Kaduna is not merely a geographical expression but a socio-cultural entity comprising the 12 Local Government Areas of Kaduna South, Chikun, Kajuru, Kagarko, Kachia, Jaba, Zangon Kataf, Jema’a, Sanga, Kaura, Kauru, and Lere, covering a landmass of 26,000 square kilometers out of Kaduna State’s 46,000 square kilometers. This is more than the size of Kano State with 44 LGAs.

2. It rejected the notion that the Southern Kaduna people are minorities and asserted that we are rather ethnic nationalities projected to be around 51.2% of Kaduna State’s population, according to the 2006 national population census.

3. It rejected the classification of Kaduna State into three zones and demanded forthwith the adoption of two geo-political zones: North and South, in the distribution of political offices and rotation of the governorship position of the state, as is the case with Nigeria’s presidency. Anything to the contrary is a calculated attempt to politically undermine and marginalize the region.

4. The conference noted the significant contribution of Southern Kaduna to the APC’s victory in the 2015 and 2019 governorship and presidential elections, contrary to claims that the region never voted for the APC. For the sake of clarity, in 2015, the APC amassed over 40% of the region’s votes and 30% in 2019 in the governorship and presidential elections in the state.

5. The conference appreciated the federal and state governments’ magnanimity towards the Southern Kaduna Zone, including strategic political appointments and siting of historical projects despite the ruling party’s poor performance in the 2023 general elections in the zone. In particular, the meeting appreciated the appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa Gwabin, among others, the approval for Sen. Katung’s bill for the establishment of the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, the Federal Medical Centre Kafanchan, and several infrastructural projects by the federal and state governments. However, the conference noted that the number and quality of appointments at the state level under Governor Uba Sani have not significantly improved from what was obtainable under the immediate past administration, and therefore called for an improvement ahead of 2027 if the government desires the support of the region.

6. The conference was divided on the issue of alignment or opposition to the centre, with a vast majority advocating for a strategic alliance with the centre in view of the aforementioned gains and the need to guarantee greater appointments and development for the region, while others proposed a strategic opposition that could make the region a bride for all political parties. Notwithstanding, the conference called on critical stakeholders to consider a strategic shift across all political structures to the centre, that is, the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, and the Senate in 2027.

7. The meeting also noted the massive vote for the opposition parties across most of the positions contested in the 2023 general elections, with the PDP and Labour claiming 15 out of the about 22 available legislative positions in the zone, and the subsequent alignment of a vast majority of these elected legislators with the centre, leaving only the PDP with about five as of today. Consequently, the conference called on Senator Barrister Sunday Marshall Katung, Hon. Dan Amos, Hon. Ali Kalat, and the two others to also consider aligning with the centre ahead of 2027 for the good of the region.

8. Finally, the conference made a clarion call to the people of Southern Kaduna to aspire to the governorship tickets of all major political parties in 2027 and ensure that a Southern Kaduna candidate emerges in at least one of them.

Signed,

Comrade Sabastine Bahori Luka (Convener)

Pastor Jerome Waziri (Secretary)

and the following underlisted participants.