NNPP too small for my political ambition, says pardoned felon Farouk Lawan
A pardoned felon and former member of the House of Representatives, Farouk Lawan, has described the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, as too small for his political stature, declaring that he has always identified with political movements that have national influence.
Speaking in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Tuesday, Mr Lawan said he preferred to align with parties that enjoy a broader national spread, which he claimed the ruling NNPP in Kano currently lacks.
He also reflected on his recent experiences, saying that his time in prison gave him valuable lessons about human nature, loyalty, and political relationships.
“Whenever God puts you through a trial, He also opens your eyes to see who your true companions are,” he said.
Mr Lawan alleged that members of the Kwankwasiyya movement, with whom he was once politically aligned, abandoned him during his legal ordeal.
“It’s been a year now. He never called to wish me well or say, ‘May Allah bless you for regaining your freedom,’” he lamented, in an apparent reference to a prominent leader of the movement.
Mr Lawan, who represented Bagwai/Shanono Federal Constituency in Kano State, was among 175 persons granted presidential pardon by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on October 9, 2025, following the recommendations of the Council of State.
He was convicted in 2021 on three counts of corruption for allegedly collecting a bribe in 2012 and sentenced to seven years in prison. Having completed his sentence, he regained freedom in October 2024.
Reflecting on his political journey, the former lawmaker said that although he was a member of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, at the time of his conviction, he had directed his supporters to join the NNPP during the 2023 elections.
However, he now considers the party too narrow for his political ambitions.
“I’m not a local politician, and I believe your political reach should be expansive,” he said. “As it stands now, the NNPP feels too small for me.”
Mr Lawan expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for granting him the presidential pardon, describing it as a divine opportunity to rebuild his life and political career.
