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I Officially Don’t Care Who’s President in 2023

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4 years ago

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Presidential Hopeful

 

 

By Farooq A. Kperogi
Twitter: @farooqkperogi

I am officially emotionally divested from the possible outcome of the 2023 presidential election. Irrespective of who wins it, Nigeria will at best remain the same and at worse degenerate to new lows.

This isn’t petulant, self-indulgent pessimism. My emotional divestment and cynicism emanate from my heightened awareness of the consequences of the unexampled political roguery going on right now.

For one, the stench of the moral rot wafting out of the primary contests in the country is so overpowering I can smell it even here in America! It’s impossible for anything good to come out of this. I’ll come back to this point shortly.

For another, the Independent National Electoral Commission, whose courage I’d praised, has buckled under the pressure of APC to extend the deadline to submit the names of candidates for the general election.

That is unforgivably irresponsible and shows clearly that INEC does not have the moral stamina to conduct a transparent and credible election. The outcome of the election can now be predicted before its actual conduct.

 

The Bigot In Kperogi’s Mirror

In a May 11 article I published on my social media timelines and on my blog titled “Ahmed Lawan and Threat to INEC’s Independence,” I pointed out that INEC was facing the first real crucible of its independence and credibility in 2022 after the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) reportedly requested it to extend its June 3 deadline for political parties to turn in the names of their nominees for the 2023 election.

“Anyone who is paying attention would know that this move was in all likelihood sponsored by the leadership of the APC, which has dragged Ahmad Lawan to run for the APC presidential ticket in anticipation of the emergence of a northerner as PDP’s candidate,” I wrote.

“Well, should INEC buckle under and extend the deadline that ‘IPAC’ has requested,” I said, “that would be the first, firm evidence that INEC is in bed with APC and can’t be trusted to conduct a free and fair election in 2023.”

The only major political party that INEC’s 6-day extension of the primary election timetable is designed to benefit is APC. There’s no question about that. PDP has already screened its presidential contestants and is ready to conduct its primary election this weekend.

APC, on the other hand, hasn’t screened its contestants even when it publicly said it would conduct its primary election on Sunday. It keeps shifting the goalposts while the game is on. Buhari curiously left the country and wasn’t scheduled to be back when something as momentous as the presidential primary election of his party was supposed to be conducted.

This at once shows awful irresponsibility, impunity, and an indication that APC knew it could manipulate INEC at the last minute to bend to its wishes.

APC has always wanted PDP to first elect its candidate so that it can determine how it will choose its own. If PDP nominates a northerner, it will nominate one, too. If it nominates a southerner, it will nominate one, too. It just got its wishes on a platter because INEC has shown itself to be a spineless and feckless toady of the party in power.

INEC is evidently in bed with APC and can’t be trusted to conduct a fair, credible, and transparent election.

If rules made months ago can be changed so whimsically to pamper the irresponsibility of a political party, what’s the point of making them? We might as well be conducting primary elections until Election Day in 2023.

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Mahmood Yakubu obviously hasn’t learned anything from his disastrous conduct of the 2019 election. He is determined to replicate it in 2023, and that’s such a shame.

In addition to a barefacedly partisan INEC whose conduct has already signaled where its loyalties lie before Election Day, the conduct of primary elections so far have made it clear that politics is now a brazen transaction. Party delegates openly haggle over and sell their votes to the highest bidders, and the highest bidders get to fly their parties’ flags in the general election.

This is the lowest point in Nigeria’s democracy. We had never seen anything like this. The mercenariness of the electoral process used to a little subtler and a little more “dignified.” Now, there’s no pretense. It’s in your face.

Even Yemi Osinbajo who, along with Muhammadu, pretended to lead an “anti-corruption” regime (and is a pastor, to boot), doles out N250,000 bribes—which he now pays in dollars— to delegates in the open each time he visits states to campaign. And those are mere “ground-wetting” bribes before the main bribes.

Bola Tinubu, who had never pretended to be anything other than an unprincipled, wheeler-dealing political conman, is also bribing delegates silly—in dollars and in the open. He endorsed a disgraceful coronation of his handpicked stooge in the Lagos governorship primary “election” and shut out two other contestants who paid nomination fees.

But he wants a fair contest for his presidential ambition in Abuja and chafes at the kind of “consensus” he imposed in Lagos. I hope he gets the karmic retribution he deserves in Abuja whenever APC holds its primary election.

Other APC presidential frontrunners like Rotimi Amaechi and Ahmad Lawan are also either bribing delegates or hoping for a “consensus” arrangement that will help them circumvent the rigors of an actual electoral contest.

If the hints APC chairman Adamu Abdullahi dropped on May 26 that the field of contest will be open to all contestants, you can expect the ticket to go to the highest bidder.

It’s no better in PDP, whose already rickety structure is collapsing before facing off with APC. There, too, the highest bribe giver to delegates will be the party’s nominee. Nyesom Wike and Atiku Abubakar are in a contest for who can bribe party delegates more liberally than the other.

So, in 2023 we’ll have a cast of elected people who unashamedly bought delegates with millions (in some cases billions) to get to their positions. What could possibly go wrong with that? Why should people who expended enormous resources to bribe their way to power be expected to be anything other than thieves with a legal cover to siphon the national treasury?

More than that, though, the structure that enables and sustains Nigeria’s many dysfunctions won’t change with a change of government. In fact, it might get worse with the crop of shameless bribe givers that will be ushered into power next year.

Our system is incapable of reforming itself structurally. It’s condemned to perpetually sustain and reproduce its dysfunctions. Any politician who tells you he or she will “restructure” Nigeria when he or she becomes president is lying to you.

To truly restructure Nigeria would require creative destruction. That means people who’re comfortably ensconced in the current structure have to agree to destroy it from top to bottom (or, as Buhari says, “botum”) and that won’t happen.

After colonialism, only military regimes have been able to tinker with the structure of Nigeria. Except for 1963 when the Midwest Region was created from the Western Region during Nigeria’s first parliamentary democracy, every other structural change in Nigeria—from state creation to local government creation—happened under military regimes.

Only people who are outside the orbit of the power structure advocate restructuring. The moment they get into the power structure and experience its elite indulgence, impunity, lack of accountability, reward for indolence, and sloth, they become its most vociferous defenders.

It never fails. APC ran for election in 2014 and 2015 on the promise of restructuring Nigeria. They are today the most passionate defenders of the very structure they said was in need of reform. The PDP, which defended the structure the APC said needed to be reformed, now says it will restructure the country when it gets back to power.

It’s all a giant deception. None of the people running for president from the major political parties has any plans to depart from the past. I have given up. It can’t work. Why should I care who becomes president in 2023?

 

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Kano Deputy Governorship, My Reiterated Position : My Challenge Against Riffraff

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2 hours ago

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April 17, 2026

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By Abba Anwar

It very clear to my readers, that I kept quite at the initial stage of the heated debate hovering around our political development in Kano. When Deputy Governor His Excellency, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, resigned from his position few days back.

I kept quite not because I had nothing to contribute to the debate. I was only observing genuine and fake commentators. Those who talk directly from their clean hearts. And those who say one thing before point A and change tone under the same issue before point B.

Before reiterating my position, which was already in the public domain, “Why Hues, Cries Against Garo,” authored April 5th, 2026, let me say this, with all sincerity of purpose, while referring my readers back to what I wrote before now. All the write-ups are still available and can be searched.

What is that I want to say? I am an ardent advocate for unity and cooperation among leaders and followers of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano state. On this particular issue of unity, I am more concerned with Kano than Nigeria as a whole.

Secondly I don’t hide my political feelings all along. My defence are my write-ups. For the simple reason that, I write frequently for His Excellency, Deputy Senate President, Barau I Jibrin, CFR, that doesn’t mean I cannot write something and praise His Excellency, Deputy Gubernatorial Candidate, under APC, in 2023 election, Murtala Sule Garo.

It is double standard if I cannot tell Barau how I respect Garo. And vice versa. Nowhere in the past, when I support any form of divisions among our political leaders. I always called for unity, internal cohesion and coming together for a united front and purpose.

Yes I write more and more for Barau than Garo, but that does not mean I cannot express my political feelings or reasoning, that may not likely be palatable for Barau.

On 5th October, 2024, please go and search, I wrote “Barau’s Political Gamble : Ignoring His Supporters for Kwankwasiyya and NNPP Defectors.” In it I said, “Senator Barau, despite his admirable record of representation and infrastructure projects, seems distracted by these unnecessary political maneuvers. The time spent wooing disloyal members of rival parties would be better utilized in strengthening his political base. He should focus on empowering those who have supported him from the start, especially the youth and grassroots leaders who have been instrumental in his rise.”

As I said the above for Barau, I said this for Garo, in my write – up captioned, “Garo’s Bitter Truth and Kano’s Development,” dated January 5th, 2025, “For the first time, yes first time, in this republic, I mean since the restoration of our democracy from 1999 to date, I came across a prominent politician in Kano, blaming our leading politicians in the state, particularly past governors, over non-challant attitudes towards teaming up for the sake of state development.”

Not only Garo, with all my good write – ups for Barau, I still found it desirable to wrote something and commend Hon Abubakar Kabir Bichi, member representing Bichi federal constituency, at the House of Representatives. Bichi too, is seen by many as a die-hard political opponent for Barau. Go and search my piece titled, “Fateful Triangle : Kano APC’s Stronghold, Kano North,” dated 5th May, 2025.

I don’t hide my political leaning to anybody. Let people know that, with all modesty, I am just above collecting resources from so so person and write bad thing against another person in this race for Deputy Governorship in Kano. I cannot collect any inducement from opponents to write bad about Hon Kabiru Alasan Rurum, or Hon Rabi’u Sulaiman Bichi or HE Garo or Right Honourable Speaker, State House of Assembly, Hon Falgore.

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I cannot do that. And at the same time, I cannot write any bad thing and give to other opponents to write someone’s name. I don’t do that! Man, I am above that! When I believe in something, I dont hide.

LET ME PUT MY CHALLENGE FORWARD, WHOEVER KNOWS THAT SO SO PERSON GAVE ME SOMETHING AND I WROTE A SINGLE LINE EVEN, OR A PARAGRAPH, OR A COMPLETE ARTICLE AND GAVE IT TO ANOTHER PERSON’S OPPONENT TO PUT A PEN NAME, NOT MY NAME, AND USE IT AGAINST SOMEONE, WHOEVER KNOWS THIS AND KEEPS QUITE MAY ALLAH CURSE HIS LIFE COMPLETELY. LET HIM COME FORWARD WITH HIS EVIDENCE PLEASE AND MAKE IT PUBLIC. AND IF I DID THAT AND NOW SAID I DIDN’T DO, MAY ALLAH, OUR CREATOR, CURSE MY LIFE COMPLETELY TOO!!! AND WHOEVER GAVE ME A PENNY TO DO THAT AND KEEPS QUITE, MAY ALLAH CURSE HIM TOO!!!

Whenever I write something, I own it, no matter what. Let me give an example here, yes I worked under His Excellency, former Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, CON, as his Chief Press Secretary, for six good years, but few months back during Tsanyawa /Kunchi and Bagwai/Shanono by-elections, after the declaration of the results by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), what I saw was nothing to write home about. Not impressive at all.

I immediately picked my pen and wrote an article, captioned, “Kano By-election : The Beginning of an End Era,” dated 17th August, 2025, in it, I called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, that he should review his political appointees who came from there, Kano North and immediately remove those who cannot perform as his good Ambassadors. I gave an example with the son of my boss, Engineer Abba Ganduje. I didn’t use any other name. I wrote it, I owned it and it was published and widely circulated. Please go and check.

The piece partly says, “To Allah Who Created me from nothing, if sadism, treachery and unnecessary political confrontation continue to take lead in our political relationship, especially among our leaders, APC is going nowhere in Kano. Even if it is leading Africa not Nigeria. Kano is known for its radical political engagement. I suggest President Tinubu should, I can’t say must – being a President – hastily look inward in Kano’s appointments and make necessary modifications.

For example, looking at the Kano North, where APC lost in this by-election, what is the use and relevance of appointments like that of Eng Umar Abdullahi Umar (Abba Ganduje) among other irrelevant appointments? What is the wisdom behind dropping people like Murtala Garo from the zone? What is the wisdom behind the unnecessary face-off between our elected people from the zone? What for?!”

When I wrote another article, where I blamed APC leadership in Kano for distraction and destruction, who gave me penny? And whose name was there as the author? The piece is titled, “Kano APC in Discombobulation : As Ploys Against DSP Barau Thickens,” dated December 15th, 2025. So I am beyond that, with all sense of modesty.

My position for Deputy Governorship, as I said very clearly in my recent write-up, captioned, “Why Hues, Cries Against Garo,” dated April, 5th, 2026, is Garo. I spoke out my reasons for his choice. My reader can kindly go and search.

In it I said, “And the way I see it, Garo is not desperate about it. He isn’t so desperate to become a Deputy Governor. My view, I stand to be corrected. As it is now, former Governors and former Deputy Governors, are still benefiting from him, from many standpoints.

Garo, unlike former Deputy Governor and Gubernatorial candidate under the platform of APC in 2023 election, His Excellency Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, who after he lost 2023 election was appointed, Chairman Governing Board, Bayero University, Kano and Chairman Board of Directors of Mortgage Bank, exited from APC recently to African Democratic Congress (ADC), in search of more political breathing space, Garo remains in the party without any appointment, whatsoever.

All along, nowhere was it reported that Garo was castigating the party at either state or national level. Now a vacancy arises, and the space is naturally available without any effort from anybody. Who then is in the best position to be compensated? If not Garo, who?”

When the write – up was published, Barau didn’t rise an eyebrow about it. In fact I sent him the links of all the online platforms that published the piece. The same way as, whenever I wrote something about Barau, Garo was one of the first people I send my write-ups to. Even for once, Garo never complained about it. And he didn’t change mood when we meet. I still believe misunderstanding between Barau and Garo or between Barau and Abban Bichi or between Garo and former State Party Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, or between any other leader or their followers, is not necessary please. All the leaders need each other. They believe it or not.

Anwar writes from Kano
Friday 17th April, 2026

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A Glimpse into the Politics of Distinguished Senator Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar, Marafan Sokoto

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3 hours ago

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April 17, 2026

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By Ahmad Musa Jega

 

In his political history, he stands out as one of the prominent politicians from Northwestern Nigeria who has never changed his political party. No matter the challenges or hardships, he has never betrayed his party through conspiracies or divisions.

Everyone knows the difficulties and challenges he endured between 2019 and 2022. There is hardly any political challenge in the world that Distinguished Senator Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar (Marafan Sokoto) has not faced. One could even say that only his life was spared, yet despite all this, he never abandoned his party, the APC.

– ANPP Zamfara State Secretary, 2003–2004
– ANPP Zamfara State Chairman, 2004–2006
– Member, House of Representatives (Anka–Talata Mafara Federal Constituency), 2007–2011
– ANPP Acting National Treasurer
– Governor of Zamfara State, 2011–2019
– Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum, 2014–2019
– Distinguished Senator representing Zamfara West Senatorial District, 2023–present

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Distinguished (Marafan Sokoto) is the only politician in the Northwest who has kept politics within its boundaries, friendships within their boundaries, and has never allowed party differences to affect his friendships.

Examples:
1. Senator (Dr.) Aliyu Magatakarda Wamako (Sarkin Yamman Sokoto), his mentor and a leader in Northern politics.
2. Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, his friend and confidant, despite the political weight of Sokoto State, he has never allowed politics to break their bond.

Distinguished (Marafan Sokoto), no matter how great his political ambitions, never allows them to cause anyone to lose their position or status just to satisfy his own needs.

Examples:
1. In 2023, when he and Minister Hon. (Dr.) Bello Muhammad Matawalle were in APC, there was a proposal to dissolve the Zamfara State Executive Council and redistribute positions. He opposed it, insisting everyone should keep their seats until after the 2023 elections.
2. In 2023, there was a proposal to restructure APC leadership in Zamfara State. He refused, saying everyone should retain their positions, while he and Minister Matawalle would maintain their own structures.
3. In 2023, during the sharing of political candidacies in his constituency (Talata Mafara 1), even though he had more qualified candidates, he allowed Hon. Shamsuddeen Hassan Basko (aligned with Minister Matawalle) to retain his seat. After winning, Basko defected to PDP, yet Distinguished (Marafan Sokoto) did not retaliate.

Distinguished (Marafan Sokoto), if he knows you through a friend or close associate, but later you return without that connection, he will not deal with you until you reconnect through the same channel.

In conclusion, in Nigerian politics, Distinguished Senator Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar (Marafan Sokoto) does not betray, does not slander, does not conspire against anyone, and does not sow division.

We pray to Allah (SWT) to continue guiding (Marafan Sokoto) on the right path, grant him health, wealth, and honor, and bless Zamfara State and the entire Northern Nigeria with peace, for the sake of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

 

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Tarauni 2027 : How Hon Hafizu Kawu Stabilizes Political Competition

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2 days ago

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April 16, 2026

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By Abba Anwar

While some cowards, political appointees in federal government’s positions, refused to resign from their offices, in anticipation of their political careers against 2027 general elections, former member of the House of Representatives, from Tarauni federal constituency, Hon Hafizu Kawu (OON), (mni), did not resign for two or three fundamental reasons. He has never been a coward before now.

First and foremost, he refused to resign, because, his resignation would hit hard at Kano state. In his current position, he is representing North-West geopolitical zone. National Commissioner (Technical), at National Pension Commission (PENCOM). So when he resigns, Kano state would definitely be at the receiving end. Because there is no assurance that the position would be maintained in Kano. His love for his state supercedes other personal interests.

After his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, effective August 7, 2025, confirmation by the Senate and inauguration as part of the PENCOM Board, by the Secretary to the Federal Government, he promised to work tirelessly, to advance PENCOM’s objectives, strengthen pension administration, and safeguard the welfare of retirees across Nigeria.

As the position of Kawu was seen by many as portrayal of a good Ambassador from Kano, it is also understood as part of President Tinubu’s strategy to reposition key federal agencies for improved efficiency, making youth at the centrestage. With the confidence reposed in Kawu by Tinubu, his presence there, at the Commission, is highly needed and desirable. Not only by Kano people, but by all North-West people. Across our seven states.

No strange to federal positions and appointments, Kawu was Member, House of Representatives for Tarauni Federal Constituency, Kano (2019–2023), on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC). He served as Special Assistant to former Vice President, Prof, Yemi Osinbajo, GCON, (2015–2019). For national recognition and honour, he is the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), conferred in 2022. Kawu is Member, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, (mni), Kuru, Near Jos. A university graduate, with many certifications.

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The second reason why he didn’t resign is, yes he has all it takes to contest for the position, but his special interest in the party unity, genuine membership cohesion and leadership honest consolidation, partly inform his decision not to contest. As some may argue that, his popularity, grip to the grassroot and political strength, are placed above other aspirants. With all the qualities, with all his pedigree and with the development he brought to his constituency, when he was a member, he quietly removed himself from the potential contestants.

Honourable Kawu’s strength and influence among the electorate, make him a focused political icon and juggernaut in Tarauni. As people look up to him, seeking for political direction come 2027. Though he is not contesting, he still has the power to do and undo in his primary constituency, at least. Or rather at best.

Apart from the incumbent member, the major contender for this position, is Hon Aminu Bala Ja’oji. Who recently resigned as Senior Special Assistant to the President, on Citizenship and Leadership. While he too, is another political king in his own right, his major obstacle is, the refusal of some notable politicians from Tarauni to support his ambition.

I was able to eavesdrop that, Ja’oji’s major political opponents are ganging up against him. As there was insinuation, which is yet to be ascertain that, he would get an automatic ticket. Automatic ticket could be possible and accepted in some federal constituencies in Kano, but in Tarauni, it could be vanity upon vanity.

With the undisputed influence and strength of Kawu in Tarauni politics, a possibility of dark horse is not penciled down. I learned that, some have started coming up with new strategies, new possibilities, new engagements, new interested minds and new normal. Whether true or false, Kawu may not support the candidature of Ja’oji.

Regardless of the arrangement, Kawu’s non-participation in the process as a contestant, will prove further, to all, who between him, Ja’oji and the incumbent [I don’t know if he is in APC or not] commands more respect from the party leadership and followership. If Tarauni is having parallel leadership structures, then the tug-of-war will be more interesting to watch from a distance.

For healthier, clearer and more interesting political competition, for the 2027 Tarauni election, some may suggest that Kawu should not aid Ja’oji get the ticket. And Ja’oji shouldn’t aid Kawu’s preferred aspirant, to get the ticket, during the nomination process. But when any of them gets it, then political alignment and realignment is quite normal and proper. The choice is theirs!

While in some federal constituencies, automatic ticket means peace, harmony, genuine consensus and sign of victory, in Tarauni federal constituency, automatic ticket means disaster, danger and self-defeat. Examples of where automatic ticket means peace, harmony and strategy, are Dala, Tudunwada/Doguwa, Bichi, Municipal, federal constituencies among others.

This piece is not interested in discussing Senatorial of Gubernatorial positions. Or State House of Assembly positions. The context is limited only to federal constituencies; House of Representatives.

Anwar writes from Kano
Thursday, 16th April, 2026

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