Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari

Senator 9th Assembly | Public Finance Expert
Former Commissioner of Finance, Kaduna State

[Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari @Abdu_Kwari]

A few days ago when I announced my defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), someone asked:
“Who exactly is Suleiman Abdu Kwari?”

Instead of titles, let me answer with a story…

[Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari @Abdu_Kwari]

The decision to consolidate Nigeria’s social interventions should be welcomed as a necessary correction to years of fragmented and overlapping government responses to poverty. But consolidation must go beyond bringing programmes under common administrative supervision. It must create a unified national social-protection architecture based on verified identity, household-level targeting, interoperable databases, transparent funding, digital payments, independent monitoring and measurable graduation from dependency to self-reliance.

Nigeria does not need an ever-expanding catalogue of palliatives. It needs a social-protection system capable of protecting citizens from shocks while simultaneously helping them escape poverty.

The ultimate measure of success should therefore not be the number of naira distributed or beneficiaries announced, but the number of Nigerian households whose incomes, livelihoods, health, education and economic resilience have demonstrably improved.

[Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari @Abdu_Kwari]

Innalillahi wainna illaihin rajiun

The tragedy of a retired Major General dying in bandit captivity should not merely provoke condolences. It should provoke a national debate about whether Nigeria’s security model, designed for a country of less than 50 million people in the 1960s, can adequately protect a nation of over 200 million people in 2027.

That may be the most important issue on which every governorship, senatorial, and presidential candidate should be compelled to present measurable commitments before the 2027 elections.

May Allah in His infinite mercy grant the General a place among the righteous. May He comfort his family, strengthen their hearts, and ease the weight of a grief no family should bear. May his sacrifice not be forgotten, and may it stir in our leaders the conscience and courage that his death demands.

And may Allah grant Nigeria the wisdom to choose better, the will to govern justly, and the peace that has for too long eluded her people.

Ameen.

[Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari @Abdu_Kwari]

JUNE 12, MY BIRTHDAY, POLITICAL TRAVAILS, AND THE 2027 ELECTIONS: THE IRONY OF “ONE MAN, NO VOTE” IN NIGERIA’S POLITICAL LANDSCAPE

By Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari

Every June 12 arrives with a quiet duality for me. It is my birthday. It is also Nigeria’s Democracy Day, a day that carries the memory of a people who refused to let their choice be stolen from them.

That duality has never felt more personal than it does this year.

This commemoration comes against the backdrop of my own recent political experience and the deepening controversies surrounding the ADC primary elections in Kaduna State. What I witnessed was not merely a procedural dispute. It was a stress test of democratic principles, and the results were troubling.

The lesson of June 12 has always been straightforward: democracy is not the mere act of conducting elections. It is the protection of the right to make genuine choices.

Nigeria faces a different version of that same threat today. Citizens largely retain the right to vote. But a quieter question has taken root: whether meaningful choices are available before those votes are ever cast. This is the irony at the heart of what I call “One Man, No Vote.” Not a denial of ballots, but a narrowing of competition. Not a cancellation of elections, but a predetermination of outcomes before members can freely choose.

My experience in the Kaduna North Senatorial primary contest brought this into sharp focus. The issues were never about any individual aspirant. They were about transparency. About fairness. About equal opportunity. About whether qualified contestants would be permitted to compete in a process that deserved to be called democratic.

What followed, reports of waivers shielding incumbents from competitive contests, the suspension of electoral processes, the exclusion of aspirants, and the resort to affirmation without genuine consensus, raised questions that go far beyond one party or one election cycle.

Political parties are the gatekeepers of democracy. When internal democracy is weakened within parties, democracy itself begins to hollow out.

As Nigeria moves toward the 2027 general elections, every political party must reckon with a simple truth: their greatest asset is not power, not incumbency, not influence. It is credibility.

Credibility is built through fairness.

Credibility is earned through competition.

Credibility is preserved when members are free to choose.

The enduring lesson of June 12 is that democracy is measured not by the existence of rules, but by whether those rules protect choice, participation, and justice, especially when protecting them is inconvenient.

As I mark another birthday today, I remain hopeful. Nigeria’s democracy has shown before that it can outlast its abusers. But that future is not guaranteed. It depends on our collective willingness to defend democratic competition wherever it is threatened: in primaries, in conventions, in courts, and in public conscience.

The struggle of June 12 did not end in 1993.

It continues wherever fairness is challenged, competition is suppressed, and the people’s right to choose is quietly, methodically diminished.

That is the challenge before 2027.

And that is why the irony of “One Man, No Vote” should concern every Nigerian who still believes that democracy is worth defending.

[uche diala @uchediala]

#DaysCount

106 DAYS .
106 DAYS ..
106 DAYS ...
106 DAYS ....

And Still Counting ...

#IStandWithElrufai
#NoRetreatNoSurrender
#EyesOnTheBall
#TheElrufaists
#ESG

[Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari @Abdu_Kwari]

PRESS STATEMENT ON THE NEED FOR FAIRNESS, INTERNAL DEMOCRACY, AND INCLUSIVENESS IN THE ONGOING ADC PRIMARIES

My attention has been drawn to growing concerns and complaints from party members and aspirants across various constituencies regarding alleged attempts to exclude certain aspirants from participating fully in the ongoing primaries of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), particularly in areas where incumbents are reportedly being considered for automatic tickets and affirmation-only arrangements.

As a loyal party member and stakeholder who believes strongly in the vision and future of our great party, I consider it necessary to call for calm, fairness, transparency, and strict adherence to democratic principles in the conduct of all party primaries.

The ADC has continued to gain the confidence of millions of Nigerians because it represents hope, inclusiveness, accountability, and a credible alternative to the old political order. It is therefore important that our internal processes reflect these same democratic ideals.

While incumbents deserve recognition for their contributions and service to the party, no aspirant should be denied the constitutional and democratic right to contest in a free, fair, and transparent primary election. Democracy thrives on healthy competition, equal opportunity, and respect for due process.

Any perceived attempt to impose candidates or restrict participation may create avoidable grievances, weaken party unity, discourage grassroots supporters, and ultimately affect our collective chances ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In the spirit of party cohesion and lasting peace, I respectfully urge the leadership of the ADC at all levels to consider the following:

• Ensure that all elective positions are subjected to transparent and credible primaries in line with the party constitution and guidelines.

• Guarantee a level playing field for all qualified aspirants regardless of incumbency status.

• Encourage voluntary consensus arrangements only where all parties willingly agree without pressure or intimidation.

• Establish effective conflict-resolution and appeal mechanisms to promptly address complaints arising from the primaries.

• Intensify stakeholder engagement, reconciliation efforts, and consultations before and after the primaries to strengthen unity within the party.

At this critical moment in our nation’s political history, Nigerians are looking up to the ADC as a platform capable of delivering credible leadership and national renewal. We must therefore conduct ourselves in a manner that inspires confidence among our members and the wider public.

I remain fully committed to the unity, growth, stability, and electoral success of our great party, and I believe that with fairness, justice, and inclusiveness, the ADC will emerge stronger and better positioned for victory in 2027.

Thank you.

Signed:

Sen. Suleiman Abdu Kwari

@ADCVanguard_ @raufaregbesola @BolajiADC

[Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari @Abdu_Kwari]

It is truly disheartening to see a man who has served this nation and our dear State with distinction being treated in this manner. The denial of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai’s access to his doctors and family by the ICPC is deeply concerning, as it touches on his fundamental rights as a citizen.

Mallam deserves fair and humane treatment. He remains innocent in the eyes of the law until proven otherwise, and I urge the authorities to uphold the rule of law and the dignity of the individual in this process.

[Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai @B_ELRUFAI]

Press Release: Our father, Mallam Nasir @elrufai, is still being held by the ICPC. Today, 15 May 2026, we witnessed two distinct yet equally serious attacks on his basic rights. First, his personal Doctor visited the ICPC at about 3pm to discuss the results of medical tests recently conducted on our father. Officials at the agency blocked the doctor from seeing him, claiming that written permission from the ICPC Chairman was required. This directly flouts a clear court order granting Mallam Nasir El‑Rufai unrestricted access to his doctors.

Second, his wife, Aunty Aichatou, brought his evening meal at around 7pm as she normally does. ICPC personnel turned her away, saying they had orders not to permit food deliveries after 6:30pm. This arbitrary rule is no less offensive than blocking his right to medical care.

These acts are an outright assault on the rule of law and a clear violation of our father's constitutional and human rights. No lawful detention justifies denying medical access or refusing basic family care based on an arbitrary curfew fixed by the ICPC. Shame on them as an institution.

We demand that all his constitutional rights be fully respected. We will no longer accept this pattern of intimidation dressed up as protocol. The ICPC must abide by the very laws it claims to enforce.

Signed
Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai
Member.
Kaduna North Federal Constituency
Chairman, Committee on Banking Regulations.
May 15, 2026.

[Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari @Abdu_Kwari]

The Supreme Court has affirmed Senator David Mark’s leadership of the ADC. This decision affirms justice, party autonomy, and democratic values.

As members of this great party, we must now close ranks, heal divisions, and focus on delivering genuine hope to Nigerians. Our collective resolve will define a better future.

[Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari @Abdu_Kwari]

I stand with a man whose words have always been ahead of his time. Mallam said “Unless betrayed, our loyalty and fidelity to friends are permanent and pensionable. Unless reconciled, our opposition and enmity to traitors are permanent and pensionable.”

He meant every word, and those who felt that opposition are now using the full weight of the state to silence him.

Today it is Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, tomorrow it could be anyone who dares to speak truth to power. Your silence today is your vulnerability tomorrow. Stand with us. We will not be silent.

Free Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.

[Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari @Abdu_Kwari]

The subsidy is gone. The suffering doubled. The savings disappeared. We are borrowing billions in the same breath we claim to be saving trillions. Someone needs to account for the mathematics of this government.

[Nairametrics @Nairametrics]

With Edun out, Tinubu requests Senate to Approve $516 Million Loan to Fund Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway

[Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari @Abdu_Kwari]

Mallam Nasir El-Rufai remains detained, not because the law demands it, but because power fears him. We stand in unwavering solidarity with him and condemn those who have turned Nigeria’s courts into instruments of political revenge.

[Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari @Abdu_Kwari]

The continued detention of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has created a growing public perception that justice is being overshadowed by external pressure and political considerations. In any democracy, that perception alone is deeply damaging.

Courts must be guided only by law, evidence, and constitutional principle. When a prominent opposition figure and leading voice within a political coalition remains in custody amid unresolved bail issues, many citizens will understandably question whether the process is truly independent, balanced, and free from interference.

No court should allow itself to appear as an instrument of partisan interests. The judiciary exists to protect liberty, restrain abuse of power, and stand above political contests. Where detention appears prolonged without compelling legal necessity, confidence in the system is weakened.

Mallam El-Rufai, like every Nigerian citizen, is entitled to the presumption of innocence, fair treatment, and impartial adjudication. His political relevance should neither advantage nor disadvantage him before the law.

We therefore call for an urgent, transparent, and strictly lawful review of his continued detention and all pending bail matters. Justice must not only be done; it must be seen to be done.

If courts bend to pressure, democracy bends with them.
If courts stand firm, the Constitution stands firm.
Nigeria deserves courts that answer only to the law.

[Yahya Muhammad @YahyaMuham6666]

Alhamdulillahi, yanzu haka wajen shariar malam Nasir erufai, muna addaua Allah yasa muji Alheri, Allah ka kubutar dashi.

[Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari @Abdu_Kwari]

Today is the day!

We’re heading to the ADC 2026 National Convention at Rainbow Event Center, Abuja!

Arise and Shine! 🇳🇬🤝

The future of our party and Nigeria starts here. Who's joining me?

#ADCConvention2026 #AriseAndShine #ADCNigeria

[Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari @Abdu_Kwari]

CONGRATULATORY STATEMENT

I extend my congratulations to the newly elected State Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kaduna State, Dr Bege Katuka and other members of the state exco.

Your emergence comes at a defining moment, not just for the party, but for the future of Kaduna politics. Across the state, there is a growing demand for a credible alternative, one that is organized, disciplined, and truly committed to the welfare of the people.

This is the burden and the opportunity now before you.

The ADC must rise beyond routine politics. It must become a vehicle for real change; rooted in strong grassroots structures, clear policy direction, and the courage to challenge a system that has failed too many for too long. The people are watching. They are not looking for rhetoric; they are looking for leadership that delivers.

Your task is clear: unite the party, energize the base, expand its reach across every ward and local government, and position the ADC as a serious political force capable of winning both trust and power.

This moment demands clarity, courage, and discipline. If seized properly, it can mark the beginning of a new political direction for Kaduna State.

I wish you strength and success as you take on this responsibility.

The work begins now.

[Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari @Abdu_Kwari]

Musings from the 9th Senate.

Nigeria spent nearly $500M on Super Tucano aircraft under Late President Muhammadu Buhari. It was sold as a game-changer. It wasn’t.

I supported the acquisition; but with a clear warning: no intelligence, no results. Today, with rising banditry and persistent insurgency, that warning speaks for itself.

The Tucanos arrived. But so did more coordinated attacks, expanding bandit networks, and evolving terror tactics. Air power came. Security didn’t.

The problem was never just weapons. It was, and still is, a system failure: weak intelligence architecture, poor inter-agency coordination, and over-centralized security control. Even voices like Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe made this plain: “Security is not just about procurement. It is about leadership, structure, and accountability.”

Nigeria’s problem is not a lack of firepower. It is a failure of structure. Until that changes, insecurity will keep adapting faster than our response.

The next phase of reform must focus on intelligence, coordination, and the decentralization of security. That is where the real battle will be won.

[Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari @Abdu_Kwari]

Nafiu Bala’s calculated attempts to sow division and confusion within our coalition are clear to all who are watching. At a moment when Nigerians desperately need a credible, united alternative ahead of 2027, such deliberate disruption serves no national interest, only personal ones.

Let it be known: this coalition is bigger than any individual. We remain committed to unity, the rule of law, and the collective mission to rescue Nigeria through purposeful leadership.

Distraction will not derail us. We move forward.

[Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari @Abdu_Kwari]

Well said, sir! I fully stand with our leaders and the coalition who turned out today at #OccupyINEC to defend democracy against any slide into one-party dominance.

The focus must remain on delivering real solutions for Nigerians facing insecurity, inflation, and daily hardships. #DefendDemocracy #ADCNigeria

[Peter Obi @PeterObi]

We, members and leaders of the ADC, and other well-meaning Nigerians, lovers of democracy, are saying that our democracy must not be killed. We say NO to a one-party system and for that today we’re calling out Nigerians who believe in unity, peace, and security of our country to join us as we defend democracy in our land.

A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO

[Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso @KwankwasoRM]

Today, I joined fellow coalition leaders and committed democrats to strongly condemn the blatant partisanship and compromised neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The peaceful procession in Abuja united various opposition groups in a clear message: we will not stand idly by while our electoral umpire undermines the will of the people.

We shall continue to closely monitor INEC’s activities and demand that it immediately returns to the path of impartiality, transparency, and professionalism so that democracy can thrive in Nigeria. - RMK

[Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari @Abdu_Kwari]

I paid a courtesy visit to His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON, Wazirin Adamawa, former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and a statesman of remarkable standing.

It was an honour to engage with him and benefit from his wealth of experience, insight, and fatherly counsel. Our discussions also centered on the urgent need for collaboration among well-meaning leaders to rescue our country and advance the ideals of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

I remain deeply appreciative of his enduring commitment to the unity, stability, and progress of Nigeria.

@atiku

[Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari @Abdu_Kwari]

The weaponisation of our judicial system through conflicting court orders is deeply troubling and threatens the stability of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) at such a critical time.

We urge INEC to uphold the rule of law, maintain consistency, and recognise the legitimate leadership of our party. The Commission must resist any attempt to draw it into actions that undermine democratic principles.

Nigeria’s democracy deserves better. The ADC remains a beacon of hope for our people, and that hope must be protected.

Let us defend our institutions and place the interest of the nation above all else.