Hajia Zainab Sani, a highly respected and influential female political figure in Kaduna State, and formerly the Women Leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has officially announced her resignation from the party. This decision represents a significant setback to the reported plans for an SDP–African Democratic Congress (ADC) merger, an initiative believed to be spearheaded by former Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai.

Zainab Sani has long been recognized as a formidable grassroots mobiliser, hailing from the Giwa Local Government Area. Her political career includes a prominent role as a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC), where her efforts in women mobilization were central to the party’s election successes. Following her defection from the APC, she joined the SDP, quickly becoming one of El-Rufai’s trusted political allies.

In her announcement, Sani articulated her reasons for leaving the SDP, stating that she could no longer remain with a party that, in her assessment, “has lost touch with the people” and is “driven more by elite political interests than by the realities of the masses.” She further criticized the SDP for its failure to “demonstrate a people-first agenda,” pointing to the persistent struggles faced by the people of Kaduna, including poverty, insecurity, and hunger. Sani explicitly distanced herself from any political arrangement that might seek to “repackage that legacy under a different banner,” in a clear reference to the “anti-people policies” she associated with the previous administration.

Political analysts observing the Kaduna political landscape believe that Zainab Sani’s resignation could significantly reshape emerging political alliances in the state. Her departure is particularly impactful as the SDP endeavors to maintain its relevance amidst ongoing discussions to form a 'third force' ahead of the crucial 2027 elections through its merger talks with the ADC.

While Hajia Zainab Sani has not yet publicly declared her next political move, insider sources have indicated that she has concluded arrangements to return to her former party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), suggesting a potential realignment of political forces within Kaduna State.