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AA Zaura: Between Integrity and Representation

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AA Zaura

 

By Adnan Moukhtar,

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress for Kano Central Senatorial District, Abdussalam Abdulkarim Zaura, is facing criminal trial at the Federal high court sitting in Kano.

Zaura was first arraigned in court by the EFCC in 2019 when he was the gubernatorial candidate of Green Party of Nigeria alongside one Michael Edosa for allegedly defrauding Jamman Al-Azmi of monies amounting to $1.32 million with the intent to conduct a joint venture business together.

Though, Mr. Zaura was discharged and acquitted On 9 June, 2020, by Lewis Allagoa, a judge of the Federal High Court in Kano, found the defendant not guilty and discharged him on all counts.

Mr Allagoa ruled against the anti-graft agency that prosecute Zaura in court. He held that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

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Breaking: Terrorists Abduct Mother Of Kano APC Senatorial Candidate, AA Zaura

Dissatisfied with the judgment of the lower court, the EFCC appealed to the Court of Appeal. A unanimous decision by the three-member panel of judges read by Abdullahi Bayero set aside the judgment of the high court.

Mr Bayero then ordered the defendant to be tried afresh by a different judge.

Now, the main issue is the absence of the accused in court despite a ruling by supreme Court that he has a case to answer. An accused person must always be present in court, since the beginning of the fresh charge, Zaura has refused to appear before the court to the extent that the Judge had to issue an arrest warrant that he should be arrested and brought before the court to answer the charges brought against him.

Despite these serious charges, Zaura was made the Senatorial Candidate of All Progressives Congress through a consensus agreement by party stakeholders.

Despite having two other credible aspirants with track record, the party turned on deaf ears to make Zaura its candidate.

This is not the first time that credible aspirants are sacrificed for people with questionable integrity.

How would a serious party drop Bashir Garba Lado, a former Senator that had done remarkably well in the red chamber, former Federal Commissioner of the Federal Commission for Refugees and Dissaster Management for AA Zaura who neither held any public office nor good track record to become saleable to the people of Kano Central?

A serious party would never work for a consensus that favours Zaura against Ismaeel Ahmed, a fine lawyer and eloquent speaker that has worked for All Progressives Congress and the defunct Congress for Progressives Change?

It’s obvious that the duo are more competent with unbeatable record than Zaura.

APC is in a serious dilemma in Kano Central. AA Zaura’s case is a serious disadvantage to the party in the general poll even though, an accused is innocent in the eye of the law until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.

The choice is now before the people of Kano Central, with Senator Ibrahim Shekarau withdrawing from the Senatorial race after dumping NNPP, PDP’s Nuhu Danburan/Laila Buhari who are not visible in the race and in court over the genuine winner of the ticket after a paraller primaries.

The seat no doubt is eyeing Senator Rufai Hanga, a former Distinguished Senator that represented the people of Kano Central from 2003-2007 succeeding the eloquent Kura Mohammed of blessed memory, Senator Mohammed Adamu Bello as his predecessor until in 2011 when Senator Bashir Garba Lado took over.

In the history of this seat, it’s never been repeated for second term but Senator Hanga riding under Kwankwaso’s popularity in the commercial hub, his platform, the NNPP, a second term is assured.

Adnan is a Political PR Consultant and a University Lecturer. He can be followed on Twitter @AdnanMoukhtar

Politics

200,000 APC Members in Kano Dismiss Allegations Against Ministerial Nominee Yusuf Abdullah Atta as Baseless

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Over 200,000 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State have dismissed allegations of incompetence against the ministerial nominee, retired Hon. Yusuf Abdullah Atta, as baseless. Some APC members in Kano believe the allegations stem from personal grudges held by a few individuals who are not legitimate members of the party.

In a statement, Mustapha Gidan Magani, the secretary of APC Kwaciri Ward, on behalf of the entire executive committee of APC Fagge Local Government Area, rejected the allegations of anti-party activities during the 2023 general election. The executives argued that those intending to submit a petition to the Senate, claiming to represent 50,000 APC members, have no legal standing to make such claims.

The APC executives from Fagge Local Government Area are prepared to counter the petition, asserting that it will have little impact on the confirmation of Atta as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development. They expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for nominating Atta, highlighting his administrative skills and dedication to serving humanity.

 

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PDP Youth Activist Calls for Suspension of Shekarau, Bello Hayatu from the party

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Salisu Usman Karaskabuli, a youth activist of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano, has called for the immediate suspension of several high-ranking party members, including former governor Ibrahim Shekarau, Bello Hayatu Gwarzo, and Yahaya Bagobiri.

He accused them of sabotaging the party’s efforts in the state and hindering PDP’s progress in the region.

Addressing journalists in Kano, Salisu Karaskabuli alleged that Shekarau has engaged in anti-party activities during the 2023 governorship election.
“Despite being a PDP leader, the majority of his supporters backed the APC candidate,” Salisu Karaskabuli said.
He further claimed that Shekarau is already mobilizing his supporters to work for Senator Barau’s governorship ambitions in 2027, signaling ongoing disloyalty.

Salisu Karaskabuli also blamed the PDP National Vice Chairman for the Northwest Bello Hayatu Gwarzo for failing to unite the party across the region.
He noted that prominent PDP members, such as former governors Ibrahim Shema of Katsina and Ramalan Yero of Kaduna, had defected to other parties due to Gwarzo’s ineffective leadership.
Concerning the recent PDP congress in Kano, Usman expressed frustration, rejecting the outcomes of the ward, local government, and state congresses.
He accused the leadership of the party for partisan zoning and disqualifying candidates without valid reasons.

Further accusations were leveled at Yahaya Bagobiri, the chairman of PDP elders in Kano.
Salisu Usman claimed that Bagobiri had leaked sensitive party information to the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) leader Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Usman Karaskabuli called on the national leadership of the PDP to investigate the accused members and, if found guilty, take appropriate disciplinary action.

The accusations come at a time when the PDP in Kano and the wider Northwest is grappling with internal divisions, which some fear could weaken the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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APC Youth Activist Urges President Tinubu to Appoint Murtala Sule Garo as Minister

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Sadiq Ali Sango

 

Sadiq Ali Sango, a prominent youth activist of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider appointing Murtala Sule Garo as a minister in the forthcoming cabinet reshuffle.
Sango made this known in a statement released to journalists in Kano.

The Federal Government recently announced that President Tinubu would soon reshuffle his cabinet, sparking widespread speculation over potential new appointees.
Sango expressed optimism that Garo, a grassroots politician with a proven track record, would be a fitting choice for a ministerial position.

“Murtala Sule Garo is not only a politician but a true son of the soil, with immense contributions to the APC in Kano,” Sango stated.
“His service as the APC’s deputy gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 election and his unwavering commitment to the party despite not having the reins of government in Kano makes him the ideal candidate for Tinubu’s cabinet.”

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Sango further highlighted Garo’s role in holding the party together during difficult times, describing him as the “supporting pillar” of the APC in Kano.
“He has carried the party on his shoulders, providing support to party leaders and members alike,” he added.

With the APC no longer in control of Kano State’s government, Garo’s influence at the grassroots level has been pivotal for the party’s continued strength in the region.
According to Sango, Garo’s appointment would reinforce the party’s position in Kano and contribute to the success of President Tinubu’s administration.

The call for Murtala Sule Garo’s inclusion in the Federal Executive Council comes amid growing anticipation regarding the composition of the new cabinet and the need for strong political figures to represent Kano at the national level.

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