Former House of Representatives member, Farouk Lawan, has formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, setting his sights on a political comeback ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Lawan, who represented Bagwai/Shanono Federal Constituency between 1999 and 2015, officially joined the ruling party on Saturday at a ceremony held in Shanono Local Government Area, where he received his APC membership card.
The defection ceremony, presided over by the APC Chairman of Shanono LGA, Ilyas Sheme, drew a large turnout of party faithful and community leaders who described Lawan’s return to active politics as “a major boost” to the party’s grassroots strength in Kano North.
Speaking shortly after his registration, Lawan expressed gratitude to God for his “new political journey,” describing his move to the APC as both symbolic and strategic.
“Today I have received the membership card of the APC, and I hope and pray to play my role in helping the party to succeed at all levels in 2027,” he said.
“We are fully committed to the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and to ensuring the victory of all APC candidates in the next elections.”
Lawan, who was among the public figures granted presidential pardon by President Tinubu on October 9, said his political loyalty had always been guided by the need to serve his people and promote national unity.
He noted that, apart from a brief period during his incarceration when he urged supporters to back the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), he had remained a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since 1999.
“The NNPP is too small for my political ambition. I have chosen to align with a party with national spread and influence — that is what the APC represents,” he added.
In his remarks, the APC Chairman in Shanono LGA, Ilyas Sheme, welcomed the former lawmaker, describing him as “a tested and experienced politician whose influence will strengthen the party in Kano.”
“We are happy and delighted to receive Hon. Farouk Lawan. His joining the APC will bring immense political benefits to Shanono, Bagwai, and the entire Kano State,” Sheme said.
He also thanked President Tinubu for granting Lawan a pardon and acknowledged the role of Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin in facilitating the gesture.
Until his conviction in 2021 over the $620,000 subsidy bribe allegation, Lawan had been one of the most influential legislators in the National Assembly, having chaired the House Committee on Education and the Ad-hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy Probe.
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