Former lawmaker Farouk Lawan has lost his bid to return to the House of Representatives after being defeated in the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary for Bagwai/Shanono Federal Constituency in Kano State.
Lawan, who completed a five-year prison sentence for bribery in 2024, was beaten by incumbent lawmaker Yusuf Badau in a keenly contested primary.
The APC in Kano adopted consensus arrangements in 20 of the state’s 24 federal constituencies, with primaries held in only four where aspirants declined to step down. Party spokesperson Auwalu Soja said the process allowed most serving lawmakers to secure return tickets.
Lawan chaired the House Ad-hoc Committee on the 2012 fuel subsidy probe but was convicted in 2021 on one count of corruption and sentenced to five years in prison. He was released in October 2024.
His disqualification from contesting elections for 10 years under Section 107 of the Constitution was lifted after President Bola Tinubu granted him a presidential pardon in October 2025 on the recommendation of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy.
Other Kano APC candidates returned through consensus include House Leader Alhassan Doguwa, Abubakar Bichi, Abdulmumin Jibrin, Hamisu Chidari, Mustapha Bala, and Sulaiman Ishaq. The party said the primaries were conducted peacefully across the state.
