About 55 aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State who voluntarily stepped down from various elective contests in the interest of party unity have accused the party leadership and the Kaduna State Government of neglecting and marginalising loyal members.

The aggrieved aspirants, operating under the banner of the Kaduna State House of Assembly APC Aspirants Forum 2026, said they abandoned their political ambitions following appeals by party leaders, believing that their loyalty, discipline and commitment to the party would be rewarded with fairness, inclusion and recognition.

In a statement issued on Friday and signed by the forum’s chairman, Godwin Luka (Maisolar), and Secretary, Tahir Gambo Abubakar, the group lamented that, despite remaining steadfast and loyal to the APC, repeated efforts to seek an audience with the party leadership and the Kaduna State Government had yielded no positive response.

According to the forum, members voluntarily withdrew from their respective contests to preserve party unity and enhance the APC’s electoral prospects, describing the decision as a significant sacrifice made in the collective interest of the ruling party.

The aspirants, however, expressed disappointment that, months after making the sacrifice, they had allegedly been excluded from appointments, consultations and other political engagements.

They further alleged that, while loyal party members who complied with the directives of the leadership had been sidelined, individuals who openly criticised the party or opposed its decisions were allegedly being rewarded with appointments and political opportunities.

The statement said, “We willingly sacrificed our personal ambitions after appeals by the leadership because we believed our loyalty, discipline and commitment to the party would be recognised and appreciated.

“We remain committed to the ideals and success of the APC, but our patience and loyalty should not be mistaken for weakness, neither should our sacrifices be taken for granted.”

The forum stressed that its members were not demanding special treatment but were simply calling for justice, fairness and recognition of those who made personal sacrifices to strengthen the party.

It warned that continued neglect of loyal members could affect the morale of party faithful as political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.

While reaffirming their loyalty to Governor Uba Sani and the APC, the aspirants urged the governor and the party leadership to engage members of the forum urgently and address their grievances before they escalate.

They also noted that many members of the forum command significant political influence across their respective constituencies, adding that their supporters were closely monitoring developments and would expect direction as preparations for the next general elections intensify.

“We have no regrets supporting the success of our great party. However, loyalty should be rewarded. Justice, equity and fairness remain the foundation for sustaining unity and strengthening the APC ahead of future elections,” the statement added.

The forum expressed optimism that the party leadership would resolve the matter through constructive dialogue, insisting that recognising and accommodating loyal members would further consolidate the APC’s unity and electoral strength in Kaduna State.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Kaduna State chapter of the APC nor the Kaduna State Government had issued an official response to the allegations.