Months after regaining his freedom, former House of Representatives member Farouk Lawan is drawing attention with his frequent appearances at events organized by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), even though he is yet to formally declare his membership.
Lawan, who represented the Bagwai/Shanono Federal Constituency of Kano State from 1999 to 2015, was released from prison in October last year after serving a five-year sentence for bribery. Upon his release, he described the moment as “the beginning of a new chapter.”
Since then, Lawan has been repeatedly seen in the company of key APC figures, most notably the party’s national chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. Their public appearances together have sparked speculation about Lawan’s political future and possible realignment.
In December, he returned to Bagwai/Shanono for the first time since his release, wearing the signature red cap associated with the Kwankwasiyya movement under the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
Addressing his Bagwai/Shanono Federal Constituency residents during a visit, Lawan explained that he was back home not just for political purposes but also to pay condolences, pay homage to traditional rulers, and sympathize with sick families.
He described himself as a “freelancer in politics” and added, “I don’t belong to anybody.”
The ex-chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation had asserted, “Having regained freedom today, I am a better person, and I thank God for everything.”
However, Lawan’s recent moves suggest a quiet but steady drift towards the APC, leaving observers and constituents guessing.
“He is always with Ganduje, attending APC functions, and associating with our party bigwigs. But up till today, he has not come out openly to say he is now with us,” said Bashir Yusuf, an APC member from Shanono.
Another APC member, Auwalu Musa Farururwa, noted, “What we know is that Farouk Lawan has distanced himself from all PDP and NNPP Kwankwasiyya activities. That is enough for us to understand that he has shifted ground.”
Attempts by a Kano Times reporter to get Lawan’s comment on his current political stance were unsuccessful.
