Salihu Sagir Takai

Salihu Sagir Takai is a Nigerian politician and educationist who served as Commissioner under Governor Malam Ibrahim Shekarau in Kano State.

Born in Takai Local Government Area of Kano State, he attended Kwalli Primary School, Kano.

He was elected Chairman of Takai Local Government Area during the tenure of Engineer Rabiu Kwankwaso as Governor (1999–2002).

After Shekarau became governor in 2003, Takai held the position of Commissioner until 2007.

Shekarau later anointed him as the ANPP (now APC) gubernatorial candidate in 2011 but he lost to Rabiu Kwankwaso of PDP.

As a PDP nominee in 2015, Takai was defeated by Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of APC and congratulated the winner before results were announced.

In 2018, after Kwankwaso chose Abba Kabir Yusuf as his PDP candidate, Takai defected to PRP, becoming its flag bearer in 2019 with Gwangwazo as running mate; he lost again to Ganduje.

He later joined APC and aligned with Shekarau. Takai has faced two detentions by EFCC over corruption allegations—once during his commissioner tenure (2003–2007) and again concerning the N23bn campaign fund linked to Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.