2027: Farouk Lawan Eyes NASS Comeback After Bribery Conviction

A former member of the House of Representatives, Farouk Lawan, is seeking a return to the National Assembly ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Lawan, who previously represented Bagwai/Shanono Federal Constituency in Kano State, is attempting a political comeback after regaining his civil and political rights following his conviction on bribery charges.

The former lawmaker has reportedly scaled the screening process of the All Progressives Congress and has emerged as the preferred candidate of party stakeholders from Bagwai and Shanono Local Government Areas.

His renewed ambition comes months after he received presidential pardon and clemency in October 2025.

Lawan’s return bid is said to have received the backing of APC stakeholders in his constituency, following his clearance in the party’s screening process.

The development places him among aspirants positioning themselves for elective offices ahead of the 2027 polls.

Lawan previously served in the House of Representatives, where he became widely known during the legislative probe into the fuel subsidy regime.

His latest move marks a major attempt to re-enter public office after a long legal battle linked to the 2012 fuel subsidy bribery scandal.

Lawan’s political career suffered a major setback after he was accused of demanding a $3m bribe from billionaire businessman Femi Otedola.

At the time, he was chairman of the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the multi-billion-naira fuel subsidy regime.

The allegation was that Lawan demanded the bribe to remove Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited from the list of companies indicted by the committee over alleged fuel subsidy fraud.

The case became one of the most prominent bribery scandals involving a federal lawmaker and attracted national attention for more than a decade.

Lawan was later convicted in the bribery case and served a prison sentence.

He completed his five-year jail term in 2024 before receiving presidential pardon and clemency in October 2025.

Following the pardon, he regained his civil and political rights, paving the way for his fresh bid to return to the National Assembly.

His supporters are now presenting his clearance by the APC and endorsement by local stakeholders as a sign that he remains politically relevant in Bagwai and Shanono.

The former lawmaker is expected to test his popularity in the party’s internal process as the APC prepares for the 2027 general elections.