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How Buhari’s associates, relatives were defeated in APC primaries
Nasiru Yusuf
In what appears the diminishing of President Muhammadu Buhari’s influence within his ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), many of his loyalists, aides, and relatives were beaten in primaries to elect the party’s candidates in the next year’s general elections.
KANO FOCUS reports that while some of them contested to be the party’s candidates in elective positions during the general elections, others sought to be rẹ-elected as the party’s representatives for positions they currently occupy.
Below is the list of Buhari’s associates and relatives who were defeated during the APC primary elections.
Sha’aban Sharada
Sha’aban Sharada is the former Personal Assistant broadcast media to President Buhari. He is also the chairman House Committee on Internal Security.
He is believed to be one of Mr Buhari’s closest allies from Kano. He has been a staunch supporter of Mr Buhari since his days in the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) and one of the founding members of the Congress of Progressive Change (CPC), which merged with the Action Congress of Nigeria to form the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Mr Sharada failed in his bid to become the governorship candidate of the party in Kano. He was defeated by Governor Ganduje’s anointed candidate Nasiru Gawuna by 2,289 votes to 30 votes.
In a statement sent to journalists a day after the primary, Mr Sharada said he nearly escaped assassination and that his supporters were attacked and some killed.
He called on security agencies and party leadership to “investigate and punish the perpetrators. He also asked for the nullification of the primary election saying it was marred by irregularities, vote-buying and intimidation.”
Ismaeel Ahmed
Ismaeel Ahmed is the immediate past senior special assistant to the President on social investment.
Mr Ahmed sought to be the APC candidate for Kano Central Senatorial District but stepped down just before the commencement of the primary elections due to the intervention of the governor of the state Abdullahi Ganduje.
“In the last few weeks, we ran a good campaign for the Senate of my Senatorial District in Kano. We toured all the Local Governments and interacted with delegates and party leaders and elders.
“However, yesterday I got a call from our leader and Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and he asked if I could step down for some reasons, I met with my team and supporters and pored over all other considerations and knowing that in a delegate election it’s all about what the Party leadership wants, we stepped down, ” he wrote on Facebook.
Bashir Ahmad
A former new media aide to President Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, failed to secure the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) ticket to contest the House of Representative seat for Gaya/Ajingi/Albasu Federal Constituency, Kano, despite his relationship with the president.
Mr Ahmad was defeated by the incumbent member, Abdullahi Gaya, with 109 to 16 votes.
The election was conducted by the chairman of the Kano Municipal local government council Fa’izu Alfindiki, a staunch loyalist of Mr Ganduje.
Mr Ahmad had on the day of the election written on his Facebook page that he left the venue of the primary to protect his supporters because thugs were intimidating them.
“As an aspirant, I left the venue of the primary election for Gaya, Ajingi and Albasu Federal Constituency, because of the security of our majority delegates, if want to compete with the best, thugs shouldn’t be part of any election,” Mr Ahmad wrote.
The following day, Mr Ahmad in a statement rejected the result of the election and called for a fresh, free and fair election.
Sani Sha’aban
Sani Shaaban, an in-law to President Muhammadu Buhari, also lost a bid to secure the APC governorship ticket in the Kaduna state governorship primary
Mr Sha’aban came third with 20 votes only from 1,245 delegates accredited for the exercise.
Uba Sani, Nasir El-Rufai’s anointed candidate, polled 1,149 votes to clinch the governorship ticket while Bashir Abubakar, scored 37 votes.
However, Mr Sha’a ban kicked against the entire exercise, alleging that the poll was fraught with irregularities.
He alleged that the election was a ‘charade’, as most of the delegates from the 23 local governments were locked out of the voting venue and denied the right to vote for candidates of their choice.
Muftahu Muhammad
President Muhammadu Buhari’s nephew, and member representing Daura/Sandamu/Maiadua Federal Constituency, Fatuhu Muhammad, also failed in his bid to be re-elected as the party’s candidate for the Constituency.
Mr Muhammad lost the primary to Aminu Jamu who polled 117 votes to Mr Muhammad’s 30 votes.
Faruk Adamu
Faruk Ádámù is another close associate of Mr Buhari who lost the APC governorship primary in Jigawa state.
He was defeated by the deputy governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi, aka Danmodi, with 1,220 to 15 votes.
He was the Minority Leader in the House of Representatives between 2003 – 2007.
Mr Adamu had also failed to secure the slot of the deputy national chairman (North) of APC during the last convention.
He was said to have lost reelection due to his unflinching support to Mr Buhari.
The Adolescent Girls Initiative
for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project, Kano, Sunday commenced the assessment of 100 girls with cognitive and development disabilities in Government Grls Secondary School Zawaciki, Kumbotso local gernment area.
The move was to appropriately place the students identified into the pilot 35 inclusive education schools under AGILE Project.
Ibrahim said the Social Support Officer (SSO) in the AGILE Project Kano Malam Yakubu Muhammad, while addressing the students and their teachers, said the assessment was to provide school material support including uniforms, notebooks, stationery, backpacks, and any specialized learning aids tailored to individual needs.
He said at the end of the assessment AGILE Project will develop Individualized Support Plans (ISPs) outlining necessary accommodations, assistive devices and instructional strategies.
Also speaking the lead consultant Dr Samira Ali said they have so far identified students with cognitive and physical disabilities among the students assessed.
Some of the disabilities identified according to her include cerebral palsy, austism spectrum disorder, down syndrome, behavior maladjustment and speech defect.
Also commenting the principal of Government Girls Secondary School Panshekara who doubles as All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) Hauwa Hussain commended AGILE for this intervention which she said will go a long way in ensuring inclusive education.
The assessment was conducted under Environmental and Social Safeguard Unit of AGILE Project, Kano.
The AGILE Project is a World Bank-assisted initiative implemented through Federal and State Ministries of Education, aimed at improving secondary education opportunities for adolescent girls in Nigeria.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Executive Council, chaired by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, has approved a comprehensive package of developmental projects and interventions valued at over ₦69 billion, targeting critical sectors including infrastructure, education, healthcare, energy, and humanitarian support.
KANO FOCUS reports that this was contained in a statement issued by the Governor’s Spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, on Thursday.
During its 29th meeting held on Wednesday, July 9th 2025, the Council granted landmark approvals aimed at improving service delivery and raising the living standard of citizens.
Among the biggest investments is the expansion of Katsina Road, covering the stretch from Baban Gwari Roundabout to Mil Tara, which includes the construction of five reinforced concrete pedestrian bridges at a cost of ₦24.7 billion.
Additionally, the Council approved the rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of RMK Flyover, IBB Road, Kofar Mazugal Junction, and Katsina Road with a budget of ₦7.8 billion, and the construction of 10 new concrete pedestrian bridges at strategic locations, valued at ₦3.8 billion.
In the education sector, approvals include the renovation of 13 closed boarding schools earlier shut down by the previous administration at ₦3 billion.
The Council also approved general renovation of dilapidated structures in Government Technical College Dambatta, Government Technical College Ungogo, Government Girls Secondary School Balan Tsanyawa, and Government Secondary School Guringawa, totaling over ₦1.2 billion.
Other approvals include the establishment of a new primary school in Gishiri-Wuya community, Warawa LGA, at ₦190 million, renovation of the French and Chinese Bilingual Colleges in Kwankwaso at ₦158 million and ₦349 million, respectively, the conduct of 2025 internal examinations (BECE/BEICE & SSQE/SAISQE) at ₦300 million, and the settlement of outstanding boarding school feeding liabilities for three weeks at ₦718 million.
The health sector interventions approved by the Council include counterpart funding of ₦180 million for the Free Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health programme, ₦240 million for the procurement of a brand-new Toyota Coaster bus for the School of Health Technology, Bebeji, ₦107 million for operational needs of the Kano Ultra-Modern Specialist Hospital (KUSH), and ₦344 million as counterpart funding for routine immunization for the second quarter of 2025.
The Governor, during the session, reiterated his administration’s resolve to turn Kano into a hub of modern infrastructure, inclusive development, and educational excellence.
The Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project has increased the annual Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) from N20,000 to N60,000 per beneficiary as part of renewed efforts to enhance girls’ education in Kano State.
KANO FOCUS reports that this was revealed during a sensitization campaign on the CCT program held in Gwarmai town, Bebeji Local Government Area.
Speaking at the event, the National CCT Coordinator of the AGILE project, Dr. Kubrah Muhammad, emphasised the importance of utilising the funds effectively to support and improve girls’ access to quality education.
Dr. Kubrah Muhammad,
Dr Muhammad urged parents, students, and other stakeholders to spread the message and ensure the sensitisation efforts are cascaded across communities for wider impact.
Also speaking, the Kano State AGILE CCT Component Lead, Malam Naziru Surajo, disclosed that a total of 45,850 students have so far been enrolled under the initiative in the state.
He noted that Bebeji LGA is one of the 19 participating local governments in Kano, with 4,984 girls currently benefiting from the program.
Malam Surajo highlighted that since the introduction of the CCT, girls’ school enrollment has seen significant improvement, rising by 31% overall, with 35% at the junior secondary level and 27% at the senior secondary level.
Malam Naziru Surajo
He further explained that the cash transfer comes with key conditions, including maintaining a minimum of 70% school attendance, which must be sustained for continued eligibility.
The District Head of Bebeji, who doubles as ‘Yan Dakan Kano, Alhaji Sarki Yusuf Bayero, emphasized the need for men to fulfill their responsibilities effectively, particularly in the context of supporting girls’ education.
He reiterated that the funds are meant for the students’ educational welfare, but should be managed wisely by parents.
Alhaji Sarki Yusuf Bayero (Yan Dakan Kano)
He cautioned that the CCT should not become a source of conflict within families, stressing that either parent can responsibly utilize the funds, provided they are used for the intended purpose of promoting education
“The most important thing is for parents to inculcate good moral values on their children to make them useful to society.”
Some parents of beneficiaries, Malam Abdu Gwarmai and Haulatu Musa, asked questions related to the CCT.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The AGILE Project is a World Bank-assisted initiative implemented through Federal and State Ministries of Education, aimed at improving secondary education opportunities for adolescent girls in Nigeria.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim ANIPR,
Communication Officer,
AGILE Project, Kano.
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