As the African Democratic Congress (ADC) continues to surge across Kaduna State and the wider North, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is under mounting pressure to field candidates with genuine grassroots appeal.
Party strategists and local leaders are turning their eyes to Hon. Tom Garba, a widely admired community leader vying for the Lere West constituency seat in the Kaduna State House of Assembly.
Insiders say his selection could prove the decisive edge APC needs to blunt the ADC’s momentum and secure victory in the coming polls.
Political observers note that the ADC’s rising profile has rattled the APC establishment. Once considered a fringe player, the ADC is now drawing significant support by tapping into voter frustration with perceived elite-imposed candidates.
“People will only support other parties when they see their beloved candidates running on the platform,” a senior APC source told journalists on condition of anonymity. In Lere and surrounding communities, the message is clear: popularity, not party logo alone, will decide the outcome.
Few figures command the kind of street credibility Tom Garba enjoys. Long before he expressed any political ambition, Garba was already a household name through his philanthropic work and media platform, Tgnews.
Residents describe him as a man who has consistently “lifted others” without seeking office. He has awarded scholarships to dozens of students through the Tom Garba Foundation, sponsored JAMB candidates who otherwise could not afford the exam, and mobilised resources to complete the long-abandoned central mosque in Lere.
Nehemiah captured the prevailing sentiment. “Tom Garba has been on ground lifting others; giving scholarships, using his platform Tgnews to promote our region even when he never had the ambition.
“In fact, we called him home to represent us because if he can do all he does as a private individual, he will definitely do more as a public servant,” Nehemiah said emphatically.
Another influential voice, Mallam Aminu, echoed the call. “It is our aspiration, not Tom Garba’s. He is our leader. We believe he’ll listen to us and represent our collective voices in the House. Giving him the ticket is a win,” he declared, pledging his full support.
Testimonies from ordinary citizens paint a picture of a leader driven by humanity rather than ambition.
Mallam Abdul, a leader at the central mosque project, added: “He is a liberal man who believes in humanity first. He has been galvanising support for the central mosque which has been abandoned because we lack funds to complete it.
“You can see he is a child of this soil but believes that we need a decent place to pray. He has been using his platform to mobilise supporters for us.”
These voices are not isolated. Across Lere West and beyond, voters insist that denying them their preferred candidate would be a costly mistake for the APC.
Many link Garba’s potential candidacy directly to the popularity of Governor Uba Sani, whose administration has earned praise for delivering visible infrastructure projects to previously marginalised areas.
“I’m a staunch supporter of Governor Uba Sani because he didn’t abandon or neglect us like the former governor. He did some projects in our areas so marginalisation is not there again,” Nehemiah said.
“We’re pleading with him and the APC leadership to consider our voices. The person who is going to be a plus to his second-term bid is Tom Garba.”
Party watchers believe Governor Sani’s pragmatic leadership style has created the perfect environment for such grassroots-driven selections. By backing candidates like Garba who enjoy organic support, the APC can convert personal popularity into electoral gains and neutralise the ADC threat.
As the nomination window narrows, the ball is now in the court of APC leaders in Kaduna. The choice is stark: field candidates who resonate with the people or risk an embarrassing defeat at the hands of an emboldened opposition.
For Lere West and the broader Kaduna political landscape, Tom Garba is emerging not just as a contender, but as APC’s strongest bet for a winning edge.
