During the last House of Assembly bye-election in Makera constituency, the APC lost only one polling unit – his own in Television Ward. That outcome highlighted his personal strength as a PDP pillar and underscored why his defection is seen as a significant breakthrough for the APC.
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The wave of defections reshaping Kaduna State politics gained momentum yesterday with the formal decamping of Hon. Ezekiel Samuel Gode from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). For Television Ward and Kaduna South Local Government, the event was more than a routine change of party. It marked the arrival of a political asset whose grassroots influence, organisational skills, and persuasive charm have been central to the politics of the LGA for decades.
The ceremony, held in Television Ward, was modest but symbolic, attended by local government executives, traditional leaders, councillors, party executives, advisers, representatives of the Kaduna Assembly Speaker, and community stakeholders. The atmosphere reflected not just excitement about a new member, but also acknowledgement of the significant weight Gode brings to the ruling party.
Ezekiel Gode’s name is rooted deeply in Kaduna South politics. A certified engineer and businessman, he has long combined professional success with grassroots political involvement. His journey into politics is ingrained in the history of the LGA. He contested for the Kaduna State House of Assembly in 2011, setting the stage for a career that would make him one of the most recognisable figures in the local government.
He later served as a Special Assistant to the late Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, an experience that gave him both administrative exposure and extensive political connections. By 2024, he had risen further, emerging as the PDP’s Vice Chairmanship candidate in the Kaduna South Local Government elections.
His popularity is evident in electoral contests. During the last House of Assembly bye-election in Makera constituency, the APC lost only one polling unit – his own in Television Ward. That outcome highlighted his personal strength as a PDP pillar and underscored why his defection is seen as a significant breakthrough for the APC.
Beyond titles and positions, Gode is admired for his humility and ability to connect with people. Known as a patient listener and a persuasive communicator, he has won the loyalty of tens of thousands of supporters in Television Ward. His leadership style emphasises accessibility and genuine concern for the needs of his people. These qualities have set him apart in a political environment where many leaders are distant from the grassroots.
This human touch has made him a formidable mobiliser. His political strategy is built on relationships, ensuring that his influence extends beyond Television Ward to other parts of Kaduna South. By moving with him into the APC, many of his followers have effectively expanded the party’s base in the area.
For years, Gode resisted overtures to defect, remaining loyal to the PDP and defending its interests with all his resources. However, the progress recorded under the current administration of Governor Uba Sani, especially in Television Ward, played a decisive role in changing his mind. To him, politics is not about blind loyalty to parties but about aligning with platforms that deliver tangible development.
His defection, on the other hand, reflects a strategic decision to join forces with leaders whose vision for the community aligns with his own commitment to growth and progress.
The APC leadership in Kaduna State has every reason to celebrate Ezekiel Gode’s entry. Gode is not just an influential figure but also a proven strategist whose network can shift the dynamics of future elections. His presence strengthens the APC in Television Ward and Kaduna South LGA historically a PDP stronghold.
By welcoming him, the APC gains a tested grassroots mobiliser, an experienced administrator, and a leader whose persuasive skills are certain to energise the party’s base. For Television Ward, it also means greater access to the projects and opportunities that come with being fully integrated into the ruling party’s structure.
Ezekiel Gode’s move to the APC represents more than a personal decision, it is a turning point for Television Ward and Kaduna South LGA. His influence, experience, and humility promise to inject fresh energy into the ruling party while deepening its connection with ordinary people.
For the APC, his membership is both a symbolic and practical victory. Symbolic because it signals the collapse of PDP dominance in one of its last bastions in Kaduna South, and practical because it brings in a political actor capable of delivering grassroots support at scale.
Kaduna politics will continue to evolve even as the defection of Ezekiel Samuel Gode may well be remembered as a milestone; the moment when a respected bridge-builder, with the support of Speaker Yusuf Liman, chose to channel his energy and network towards advancing the development of his people through the agenda of the ruling party.
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