“Students’ Welfare Is My Top Priority” — Sir Kalli Vows Inclusive, Accountable Leadership as BUK SUG President

The newly elected President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Abdulmudallib Kalli Sharif, popularly known as Sir Kalli, has pledged to make the welfare of students the foremost priority of his administration.

Sir Kalli gave the assurance shortly after the official release of the Students’ Union election results on Thursday, 22 January 2026. He stressed that he would pursue students’ welfare with vigour, dedication, and a strong sense of responsibility, aimed at improving and enhancing the overall wellbeing of BUK students.

Visibly elated by his victory, the SUG President expressed profound gratitude to the entire students of BUK for the confidence reposed in him. He polled 4,153 votes to defeat his closest rival, Captain Sidi Nasir, who garnered 2,808 votes in the keenly contested election. Sir Kalli assured students that their trust would not be misplaced, promising a responsive and people-oriented administration.

In other results announced, Arafat Yakubu Onono emerged victorious in her contest, defeating Khadijat Mama Jibril by a narrow margin. Onono secured 3,871 votes, while Mama Jibril polled 3,400 votes.

For the position of Secretary-General, Hamisu Abdussamad recorded a landslide victory with 4,825 votes, defeating Haruna Sani Nura, who polled 2,208 votes.

A total of 8,577 votes were cast in the e-voting process, which was widely adjudged to be peaceful, transparent, and credible.

Earlier, the Dean of Students Affairs, Professor Mukhtar Ridwan Bunza, had assured the university community that the election would be conducted in a peaceful and transparent manner. He gave the assurance during the Presidential and Executive Debate held on Tuesday, 20 January 2026, where he urged students to vote based on competence, integrity, capability, reliability, and accountability.

Also speaking at the debate, the Director of the Centre for Democratic Studies, Mambayya House, Professor Habu Mohammed, delivered a lecture titled “Politics, Elections and Political Apathy: A Critical Examination of the Students’ Union in Bayero University, Kano.” He challenged the aspirants to remain truthful to themselves and faithfully implement their campaign promises if elected.

Professor Mohammed cautioned the candidates against making unrealistic promises or portraying themselves in ways that do not reflect their true capacities, noting that such practices have contributed to widespread distrust of political leadership in Nigeria.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Bayero University Independent Electoral Commission, Anwar Usman Hassan, outlined the rules guiding the Presidential and Executive Debate, which was conducted peacefully and without incident.