Shehu Sani

Shehu Sani was born on 29 October 1967 in Tudun Wada and is known as a senator, author, playwright, and human rights activist.

He serves as the President of the Civil Rights Congress of Nigeria (CRCN) and was previously Chairman of Hand-in-Hand, Africa. His activism spans decades, including opposition to military rule and advocacy for democracy in Nigeria.

Detained multiple times by past military regimes, Sani was released after democracy returned in 1999. He first won the Kaduna Central Senatorial District in 2015 on the APC platform, serving as a prominent figure in national politics.

His education includes an associate degree in Agricultural Engineering from Kaduna Polytechnic (1984–1993), where he was active in student union roles. Early influences came from his family’s leftist and socialist readings during the military era.

Sani began activism through pro-democracy groups like the Campaign for Democracy (CD) after being introduced by figures such as Femi Falana and Beko Ransome-Kuti. His early detentions were linked to advocating for Abiola’s election annulment in 1993.

Under military regimes, including Sani Abacha’s, he was charged with treason and jailed—later commuted to 15 years—for organizing the Campaign for Democracy. His activism extended beyond politics into human rights work, opposing violence during Kaduna riots (2000) and distributing relief materials.

Sani’s mother, a community leader, and figures like Aminu Kano shaped his radical political views. He later co-founded the Movement for Unity and Progress with northern progressives to push for democracy restoration.

Beyond politics, he has authored books on themes like poverty, corruption, and peace, including Killing Fields (2007) and Political Assassination in Nigeria. His literary work blends activism with critique of Nigerian society’s issues.

His career includes roles as a journalist (pro-Northern New Nigerian Newspaper), government printer (Sokoto State), and later academic engagement. He has also organized protests against global conflicts, including Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait and Israeli actions in Gaza.

After winning the 2015 Senate election, Sani became the first Nigerian senator to publicly declare his assets (September 2015). In October 2018, he defected from APC to PRP but later returned to APC by 2026. His current political focus includes leadership in Senate committees on debt and foreign affairs.

A lifelong advocate for peace, Sani has facilitated dialogues between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Boko Haram families (2011), though his earlier recommendations were not implemented. He also chaired the 2005 National Conference’s civil society panel to reform Nigeria’s governance structures.