2027: Sumaila Condemns Political Thuggery, Drug Abuse, Says They Threaten Democracy

The Senator representing Kano South Senatorial District, Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, has condemned the use of political thugs and illicit drugs during election campaigns, describing the practices as threats to democracy and national development.

Sumaila made the remarks on Sunday while presenting his scorecard 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 Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, OFR, PhD: Reviewing the 2023 Kano South Campaign Promises Ahead of 2027,” provided an opportunity to assess his performance and contributions to his constituency.

The lawmaker said he would not resort to the use of weapons or encourage drug abuse in his political activities, stressing that such practices were inimical to democratic values.

He expressed confidence that his constituents would support his re-election bid in 2027 based on his performance over the last three years.

Sumaila also urged voters to elect candidates based on their competence and ability to deliver democratic dividends rather than their physical appearance or other superficial considerations.

“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 give him another mandate in the 2027 National Assembly elections to enable him to consolidate on the achievements recorded during his first term.

Highlighting his achievements, Sumaila said he had facilitated 103 projects and interventions across the 16 local government areas of the senatorial district.

He listed the interventions to include the sinking of 6,090 tube wells on farmers’ plots across the district and the rehabilitation of three dams at Tiga, Challawa and Kafin Chiri.

He also said 1,082 students had benefited from scholarships under the Waraka Initiative to pursue studies in various institutions of higher learning.

Other interventions, according to him, included the empowerment of traders, artisans, women and farmers with tools, vehicles, sewing machines and cash assistance.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Kano Correspondents’ Chapel, Alhaji Murtala Adewale, said the forum was organised to strengthen accountability and provide an opportunity for the senator to explain his stewardship to the electorate.

Adewale cited Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which mandates the mass media to hold government accountable to the people.

He said the engagement was designed to examine the extent to which Sumaila had fulfilled his campaign promises in 2023 and assess his contributions to the development of Kano South.

The chapel chairman commended the senator for accepting the invitation and expressed hope that other elected public office holders would emulate his willingness to account for their stewardship.