2027: Sumaila Condemns Political Thuggery, Drug Abuse in Election Campaigns

By Ladan Nasidi, Kano

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, Senator representing Kano South Senatorial District, Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, has condemned the use of political thuggery and illicit drugs during election campaigns, describing the practice as inimical to democracy.

Sumaila stated this on Sunday while presenting his scorecard to journalists at a forum organised by the Kano Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), in partnership with his office.

The event, tagged “One-On-One With Senator Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila, OFR, PhD: Reviewing the 2023 Kano South Campaign Promises Ahead of 2027,” provided an opportunity for the senator to account for his stewardship and highlight projects and interventions carried out in the constituency.

The lawmaker said he would not encourage the use of weapons or illicit drugs as part of his political activities, stressing that such practices have negative implications for the democratic process.

He said his performance over the past three years would enable the people of Kano South to assess his record ahead of the 2027 National Assembly elections.

Sumaila also urged voters to focus on the capacity and track record of candidates rather than their physical appearance or political image.

“Vote for capacity, and not by appearance of candidates. Vote for candidates that have the capacity to improve your lots in terms of project execution and other dividends of democracy,” he said.

The senator appealed to the people of Kano South to support his bid for a second term, saying this would enable him to consolidate on what he described as his achievements across the senatorial district.

According to him, his interventions in the zone include the execution of 103 projects and other interventions across the 16 local government areas that make up the senatorial district.

He listed some of the projects as the sinking of 6,090 tube wells on farmers’ plots across the zone, as well as the revival of three dams located at Tiga, Challawa and Kafin Chiri.

Other interventions, he said, include scholarships for 1,082 students studying at various institutions of higher learning under the Waraka Initiative.

He added that traders, artisans, women and farmers had also benefited from empowerment programmes involving the distribution of tools, vehicles, sewing machines and cash.

Earlier, Chairman of the Kano Correspondents’ Chapel, Alhaji Murtala Adewale, said the forum was organised to enable the senator account for his stewardship to the people of Kano South.

Adewale said the media had a constitutional responsibility to hold public officials accountable, citing Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

He said the forum was designed to examine the extent to which the senator had fulfilled the promises he made during the 2023 election campaign.

“How far has he fulfilled the promises he made in 2023? What has he achieved for the people of Kano South during his first three years in the National Assembly?

“And why should the good people of Kano South consider entrusting him with another term based on his legislative experience and contributions in the Red Chamber in the 2027 elections, In sha Allah?” Adewale asked.

He thanked Senator Sumaila for accepting the invitation to account for his stewardship and expressed hope that other elected public officials would emulate the initiative.

Adewale described the senator as a “humble man of the people” and urged other political office holders to similarly engage with the media and constituents on their performance in office.