Former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, are among those jostling for the governship ticket of the All progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State.
The diminutive ex-minister, who has been one of the most trenchant traducers of President Goodluck Jonathan administration, is putting himself against no fewer than seven aspirants have indicated interest to contest for the governorship ticket.
According to Channels Television report, a serving member of the House of Representatives, Isah Ashiru, a former deputy governor of the state, James Magaji and a host of others are also on the race.
the reported added that the state APC chairman, Mr Bala Bantex, told newsmen at the party secretariat that over 100 aspirants have so far purchased nomination forms for other elective positions.
He assured that the party would give a level playing ground to all the aspirants, while also admitting that candidates may also emerge through a consensus arrangement if need be.
He vowed that APC would form the next government in the state come 2015, saying that the state had suffered untold hardship under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government since 1999 till date.
Speaking shortly after picking his nomination form at the state party secretariat in Kaduna on Tuesday, Ashiru said he would create jobs for the teeming populace of the state and also address the high rate of insecurity in the state.
He also promised to take the state into the next phase of development through industrialisation and provision of basic amenities to all communities if elected the next governor of the state.
