“Be Truthful and Keep Your Promises,” Prof. Muhammed Charges BUK-SUG Aspirants

The Director of the Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Studies, Mambayya House, Professor Habu Muhammed, has charged students contesting for executive positions in the Bayero University Kano Students’ Union Government (BUK-SUG) to be sincere with themselves and faithfully implement their campaign promises if elected.

Professor Muhammed gave the charge on Tuesday, 20 January 2026, while delivering a lecture titled “Politics, Elections and Political Apathy: A Critical Examination of the Students’ Union in Bayero University” at the Convocation Arena. The lecture formed part of the Presidential and Executive Debates organised by the Bayero University Kano Independent Electoral Commission (BUKIECO).

Addressing the 31 aspirants vying for various SUG executive positions, Professor Muhammed stressed the importance of integrity and honesty in leadership, warning against making unrealistic promises or projecting false images for political gain. He noted that such practices have eroded public trust in leadership, particularly within Nigeria’s political space, and urged aspiring student leaders to set a better example.

He explained that elections are meant to provide a credible, free, and fair process through which leaders emerge, adding that while Nigeria still grapples with challenges in this regard, Bayero University has made commendable progress. According to him, this success is rooted in the university’s tradition of active student engagement, driven by the Students’ Affairs Directorate working closely with the Students’ Union to ensure transparent and credible elections.

Professor Muhammed, however, expressed concern over political apathy among students, describing it as a major threat to democratic participation. He warned that indifference to the electoral process weakens representation and accountability, and therefore called on students to actively participate in the BUK-SUG elections scheduled for Thursday, 22 January 2026.

In his remarks, the Dean of Student Affairs, Professor Mukhtar Ridwanu Bunza, urged students to listen carefully to the manifestos presented by candidates and to vote based on merit rather than sentiments such as nepotism, tribalism, or personal affiliations. He emphasized that competence, integrity, capability, reliability, and accountability should guide students’ choices at the polls.

Earlier, the Chairman of BUKIECO, Anwar Usman Hassan, outlined the rules guiding the presidential and executive debates and advised candidates, supporters, observers, and the audience to conduct themselves peacefully and responsibly throughout the exercise.

The debates provided an opportunity for all candidates to present their manifestos, with most pledging to prioritise students’ welfare, transparency, and accountability if elected. Aspirants who featured prominently included presidential candidates Sidi Nasir Awwal, Abdulhakim Suleiman Hakimi, and AbdulMutallib Kalli Sheriff; vice-presidential candidates Arafat Yakub Onono and Khadija Mama Jibril; and secretary-general aspirants Abdulsamad Hamisu Aliyu (Fresher) and Haruna Nura (Danbatta), among several others contesting for executive positions.