The 2023 Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, has retained Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s Deputy, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, as his running mate.

Sani, a Senator representing Kaduna Central at the National Assembly made the announcement Monday night after consultations with critical stakeholders in the state.

“I am happy to announce that I have picked Her Excellency, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, as my running mate in the 2023 governorship election in Kaduna State,” he said.

According to Sani, the choice of El-Rufai’s deputy was because of her immense contribution to the giant strides recorded by the current administration in the state.

He said, “Dr. Balarabe has demonstrated hard work, punctuality, dedication and team spirit in the discharge of her responsibility as Deputy Governor which has endeared her to the critical stakeholders in the State.

“I wish to therefore call on the good people of Kaduna State to support the choice of Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe as my running mate. I also enjoin them in coming out en-masse to vote for our ticket during the forthcoming 2023 general election. Your mandate in 2023 will enable us to build a peaceful, prosperous, and greater Kaduna State.

“Together, we are determined to make the State a reference point for good and responsive governance.”

The Deputy Governor who had earlier aspired to take over from El-Rufai, withdrew her interest in contesting the governorship ticket in May in support of El-Rufai's preferred candidate.

She wasalso reported o have rejected the deputy governorship offer.