Toba Owojaiye reporting
Abuja, Nigeria
Former Kaduna senator and ex-governorship candidate, Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi, has secured a federal appointment just days after his dramatic return to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Truth Live News gathered that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved Hunkuyi’s appointment as a member of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), representing the North West geopolitical zone.
Hunkuyi, who previously defected from the APC to contest the 2023 governorship election under the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), rejoined the ruling party last week in a move widely seen as a strategic political realignment. His swift appointment to the NASC fuels speculation that his return was brokered at the highest levels of the APC leadership.
The announcement was contained in a State House press release signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy. The statement confirmed the appointment of Dr. Saviour Enyiekere as Chairman of the NASC, alongside 12 other members drawn from the country’s six geopolitical zones.
Hunkuyi’s re-entry into the APC marks a significant shift in Kaduna’s political landscape. He was one of Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s fiercest critics, clashing with the former governor over party control and governance issues. His defection from the APC in 2019 and subsequent bid for power under opposition platforms positioned him as a strong adversary of the ruling party in the state.
However, his recent reconciliation with the APC and immediate federal appointment suggest a rekindling of alliances within the party’s power structure. This move could have broader implications for Kaduna politics, especially as the APC strategizes for future elections.
The NASC, responsible for overseeing the administration of the National Assembly, is a powerful body that influences legislative operations. Other notable appointees include:
North West: Hunkuyi and Hon. Yusuf A. Yusuf Tabuka
North East: Aminu Ibrahim Malle and Alhaji Lawan Maina Mahmud
North Central: Mark Hanmation Tersoo and Salihu Umar Agboola Balogun
South West: Hon. Taiwo Olukemi Oluga and Hon. Afeez Ipeza-Balogun
South East: Hon. Dr. Nnanna Uzor Kalu and Festus Ifesinachi Odii
South South: Patrick A. Giwa and Mrs. Mary Ekpenyong
All members, including the chairman, will serve a renewable five-year term.
Hunkuyi’s swift appointment will likely stir debate within Kaduna APC circles, especially among those who remained loyal to the party during the last election cycle. His return could signal the beginning of a realignment ahead of 2027, with President Tinubu consolidating political forces across the country.
While some see the move as a reward for Hunkuyi’s return to the party, others view it as a pragmatic step to reunite the APC’s fractured base in Kaduna and the North West. As the dust settles, Hunkuyi’s influence within the ruling party—and how he navigates his new role—will be closely watched.