By Hamza Lawal
The demands of legislative representation today are as high as the sky, as Nigerians become increasingly aware, advanced and sophisticated about how things are done in the country’s legislative arm of government.
Representation in Nigeria’s bicameral federal legislature has evolved from an era when people who could barely express themselves were sent to Abuja merely to get a piece of the proverbial national cake.
Today, voters are increasingly expected to carefully elect their representatives based on intellectual capacity, legislative experience, understanding of lawmaking and oversight functions, as well as the ability to attract meaningful development to their constituencies, as done over the years by Hon Alhassan Ado Doguwa.
Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency of Kano State is no exception to this growing expectation. The constituency requires effective representation to fast-track development, improve the standard of living of its people and maximise the enormous potential of a population that has contributed significantly to Nigeria’s development through agriculture, trade, commerce and its commitment to the rule of law.
As the country prepares for another round of elections in 2027, no fewer than nine candidates have offered themselves to represent the constituency on various political platforms.
They include the incumbent, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa of the APC; Hashimu Sulaiman of the ADP; Hashim Yusuf of the APP; Maharazu Anas of the APM; Dahiru Falgori of the DLA; Nura Salisu Dawaye of the NRM; Suleiman Umar of the NDC; Haruna Musa of the PRP; and Yahaya Musa of the YPP.
Of all the candidates seeking the mandate of the people, however, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa stands out in terms of legislative experience, political exposure and educational background.The importance of experience cannot be overstated when it comes to representing a constituency in the House of Representatives. A representative must possess more than the ability to win an election.
He or she must understand the complexities of lawmaking, parliamentary procedure, oversight responsibilities, political negotiations and the intricate process of attracting development projects to the constituency.
For a constituency as strategically important as Doguwa/Tudun Wada, this requires a representative with the exposure, contacts, political understanding and intellectual capacity to navigate the complexities of the National Assembly effectively.
There is no doubt that, in the history of the constituency, few individuals have placed the name of Doguwa/Tudun Wada on the national and international political map like Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa.
Through hard work, political experience and an understanding of the terrain, Doguwa rose to become a key figure in the House of Representatives and eventually served as Leader of the House in the 9th Assembly.
His elevation to such a position brought considerable recognition to the constituency and gave many constituents a strong sense of pride and belonging.
Such recognition does not happen by chance. It is often the product of years of political experience, legislative exposure, intellectual capacity and the ability to command the confidence of colleagues.
This experience becomes even more significant when compared with the profiles of the other contenders in the 2027 race. Based on the educational qualifications of the candidates, Doguwa possesses a level of academic and legislative exposure that distinguishes him from his challengers.
While two of the other candidates, Haruna Musa and Yahaya Musa, possess Senior Secondary Certificates of Education (SSCE), the others have First School Leaving Certificates as their highest listed educational qualifications.
Of all the contestants, the submission of the NDC candidate, Umar Suleiman Umar, on the INEC portal has raised more questions than answers, as he presented no records of any academic qualifications. The section was left blank.
This observation is not intended to diminish the abilities or contributions of the other candidates in their respective fields.
However, the responsibilities of a federal legislator demand a combination of intellectual capacity, communication skills, political sophistication, legislative understanding and practical experience.
A representative in the Green Chamber must interact and compete constructively with lawmakers from across the country, many of whom possess advanced academic qualifications and extensive professional and political experience.
It is therefore important for the electorate to consider not only the promises made during campaigns but also the capacity, experience and qualifications of those seeking their mandate.
Unlike his challengers, Alhassan Ado Garba Doguwa is a graduate of Mass Communication from Bayero University, Kano, where he obtained a First Class degree.
To crown it all, obtained an M.Sc. degree in Public Relations from BUK in 2022 and an Executive Leadership Training Certificate from Harvard Business School in the United States of America.
He began his educational journey at Dadin-Kowa Primary School, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate, before proceeding to Government Secondary School, Gaya, where he obtained his West African Senior Certificate (WASC).
His academic record, combined with decades of political and legislative experience, has helped shape his career in the National Assembly.
He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1992 under the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), giving him an exceptionally long history of engagement with Nigeria’s legislative process.
Over the years, his colleagues in the Green Chamber have entrusted him with important leadership responsibilities, including the position of Chief Whip and, subsequently, Leader of the House of Representatives.
These positions reflect not only his political longevity but also the confidence placed in him by his colleagues.
For Doguwa/Tudun Wada, therefore, the 2027 election presents the electorate with a clear choice between established legislative experience and relatively limited exposure.
At a time when the constituency requires effective representation, strategic lobbying and the ability to compete for development opportunities at the national level, experience should be a major consideration.
Returning a highly experienced and intellectually equipped representative such as Alhassan Doguwa would, therefore, provide continuity and preserve the constituency’s influence in the National Assembly.
For a constituency with such enormous potential and strategic importance, the opportunity to retain an experienced voice in the Green Chamber may be too valuable to overlook.
Writes from TUDUNWADAR DANKADAI, Kano State.
