Southern Kaduna CDAs Reject Division Plan, Assure Peaceful 2026 SKFEST

Community Development Associations Community Development Associations (CDAs) across Southern Kaduna have reaffirmed their commitment to a peaceful and successful 2026 Southern Kaduna Festival Southern Kaduna Festival (SKFEST), while distancing themselves from the newly registered Southern Kaduna People’s United Association Southern Kaduna People’s United Association (SOKAPUA).

The CDAs accused the group of fueling division within the region, amid ongoing tensions linked to leadership disputes in the Southern Kaduna political and cultural space.

Chairman of the Southern Kaduna Community Development Associations Forum, Dr. Samuel Achie, made the position known during a news conference on preparations for the anticipated cultural festival, which is expected to attract prominent personalities from across Nigeria and the international community.

The briefing, attended by more than 50 chairmen and secretaries of various Southern Kaduna CDAs, unanimously passed a vote of confidence on the organisers of the festival and formally dissociated the forum from criticisms allegedly directed at the event by SOKAPUA leadership.

Achie said the people of Southern Kaduna remain committed to unity and peaceful coexistence despite lingering tensions following the 2023 leadership election crisis of the Southern Kaduna People’s Union Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU).

He said several respected groups and personalities, including the Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Association led by Apostle Emmanuel Kure, elder statesman Prof. Benjamin Kumai Gugong, and the Southern Kaduna Traditional Council under the Chief of Kagoro, His Highness Afuwai Bonat, had made efforts to reconcile the contending factions.

According to him, agreements reached during peace meetings included the restoration of the original SOKAPU logo, deregistration of SOKAPUA, withdrawal of court cases, and reconciliation among aggrieved parties, but he alleged that the resolutions were repeatedly ignored by SOKAPUA leadership.

Speaking on the forthcoming SKFEST, Achie stressed that the festival remains an independent entity duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and not an organ of either SOKAPU or SOKAPUA.

He noted that the event is expected to host high-profile dignitaries, including Vice President Kashim Shettima and former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The CDA forum described recent criticisms against the festival as unnecessary and capable of undermining efforts aimed at promoting unity and development in Southern Kaduna.

The forum also passed a unanimous vote of confidence on SKFEST leadership led by Rear Admiral Ferguson Bobai (rtd) and the SOKAPU leadership under Bello Bissalla, citing their commitment to peace, unity, and progress in the region.

Achie further called on political office holders, traditional rulers, youth and women groups, clergy, and all stakeholders of Southern Kaduna extraction to rally round recognised structures and work collectively for the advancement of the region, Kaduna State, and Nigeria as a whole.

Efforts to get reactions from SOKAPUA officials were unsuccessful.