Sani Yabagi Yusuf

Yabagi Yusuf Sani, widely known by his monikers as YYSani or Jakardan Nupe, the ‘Ambassador of Nupe,’ was born on July 1, 1957, in Bida, Niger State, Nigeria.

A prominent figure in Nigerian politics and the energy sector, he has been a key player in the Action Democratic Party (ADP), serving as its National Chairman and later as the party’s presidential candidate in the 2019 general election. His lineage reflects deep roots in the Nupe ethnic group of Niger State, with a father who held the Ciroman Samarin Nupe title.

His educational journey began at East School Bida from 1961, followed by studies at Technical College Kontagora from 1970. He graduated from Harvard University and the Institute of Technology, New York, in 1976, and from Columbia University, New York, in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science in Management Engineering. He also completed his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) duty.

His professional career began in 1980 with PPMC Depot Kano under the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Politically, he entered the scene in 1991 as a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and later held roles in the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), including as a board of trustees member.

In 1999, he contested as an ADP governorship candidate in Niger State and served as financial secretary in the Nigeria Liberal Convention (NLC/NRC). He also acted as North Central presidential coordinator for Bashir Tofa in 1993. In 2021, he became the national chairman of the Independent People’s Action Congress (IPAC), and on May 31, 2022, he was officially declared the ADP presidential standard-bearer at the party’s special convention in Abuja.

In the 2023 presidential election, Sani ran as an ADP candidate but lost with 43,924 votes. His electoral performance highlights his enduring influence in Nigerian political circles and commitment to advancing the ADP agenda.