Expelled, Unbowed: Abdulmumin Jibrin’s latest political gamble

Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin Kofa, the lawmaker representing Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency of Kano State in the House of Representatives, has once again become the subject of national attention. In the past week, his blistering remarks on northern political disunity, coupled with his subsequent expulsion from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), have reignited debate around a […]

Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin Kofa, the lawmaker representing Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency of Kano State in the House of Representatives, has once again become the subject of national attention.

In the past week, his blistering remarks on northern political disunity, coupled with his subsequent expulsion from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), have reignited debate around a man long accustomed to controversy.

A fourth-term legislator elected under the NNPP in 2023, Jibrin is widely known for his outspoken nature and knack for controversy.

His recent media outings on Channels Television and DCL Hausa, seen as anti-party, combined with his open political romance with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in what many interpret as a strategic alignment ahead of the 2027 elections, have been described as triggers that compelled the NNPP to show him the exit.

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From his early legislative years through his forays into the executive arm and back to the Green Chamber, Jibrin has often found himself in the spotlight, sometimes as a rising star, at other times as a deeply divisive figure. But who really is the man behind the headlines?

 

Early life and education

Born on 9 September 1976, Jibrin hails from Kofa in Bebeji Local Government Area of Kano State, to Alhaji Labaran Mohammed Jibrin and Hajiya Amina Gambo.

There have been claims in some quarters that he has roots in southwestern Nigeria or even in Kogi State in the North Central, but his kinsmen dismiss this, insisting he is a “full-blooded son of Kofa.”

A local resident, who spoke to Daily Trust on condition of anonymity, clarified that Jibrin’s father, though an indigene of Kofa, spent much of his life outside the village as a military officer.

“Of course his father and grandfather are all from here. As a military personnel, his father lived in different places while serving. He married the lawmaker’s mother from Nasarawa State. Maybe that is where the misconception comes in. But his father is an indigene here,” the resident said.

Jibrin’s childhood education took him across several states. He began at Army Primary School, Janguza, Kano, before transferring to Command Children School, Jaji, Kaduna. He later attended Science Secondary School, Abaji, Abuja, and Bwari Secondary School, Abuja.

He went on to the University of Abuja, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science in 1999. He followed this with a masters in International Affairs and Diplomacy at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 2003, and a PhD in International Relations at the University of Abuja in 2009.

Over the years, Jibrin expanded his academic and professional horizons abroad, enrolling in senior executive courses at institutions including the London Business School, Harvard, and INSEAD in France.

After his postgraduate studies, he taught International Relations at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi. He later ventured into business, serving as Managing Director and eventually Chairman/CEO of Green Forest Group Limited, a conglomerate with interests in energy, property development, agriculture, investment, construction, and engineering.

 

Political beginnings, legislative foray and controversies

Jibrin’s formal political exposure came in 2002–03, when he served as coordinator of support groups for the PDP/Obasanjo presidential campaign. He later worked as programme officer at the PDP presidential campaign headquarters during the 2007 elections.

His breakthrough came in 2011, when he was first elected to the House of Representatives on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Three years later, he defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he secured re-election in 2015.

However, his political career hit a setback in 2019 when a court annulled his victory and ordered a rerun, which he lost to a PDP candidate.

Undeterred, Jibrin resurfaced in 2023, returning to the House on the platform of the NNPP.

Within his first term, Jibrin quickly rose through the ranks of the House. He achieved the rare feat of chairing the powerful Finance Committee (2011–2015) as a first-time lawmaker.

In the 8th Assembly, he was appointed chairman of the Appropriations Committee (2015–2016), positioning him at the heart of Nigeria’s budgetary process.

He is currently the chair of the House Committee on Housing and Habitat, in addition to leading several standing and ad hoc committees, including investigative panels probing alleged financial infractions across ministries, departments, and agencies.

In 2015, Jibrin contested for Speaker of the 8th Assembly but later stepped down for Yakubu Dogara, who rewarded him with the Appropriations Committee chairmanship.

However, by mid-2016, Jibrin accused Dogara and other House leaders of budget padding and corruption, triggering a storm that culminated in his suspension for over a year. He was only recalled in 2018 after apologising to the House.

In 2019, he reasserted himself as Director-General of Femi Gbajabiamila’s successful Speakership campaign, further cementing his reputation as a skilled parliamentary operator. But the following year, he lost his seat in the court-ordered rerun.

 

Political alignments and realignments

Jibrin’s political journey has been characterised by frequent shifts in alliances, particularly within Kano politics. His first electoral victory in 2011 came with the support of then-governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. He followed Kwankwaso to the APC in 2014, where he again won his seat in 2015.

But when Kwankwaso returned to the PDP ahead of the 2019 elections, Jibrin stayed behind in the APC. His subsequent fallout with then-governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and defeat in the rerun election left him politically weakened.

Despite this, Jibrin remained in the APC and was appointed Executive Director at the Federal Housing Authority under President Muhammadu Buhari.

In 2022, he emerged as a key ally of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, serving as DG of his campaign before abruptly resigning and defecting to Kwankwaso’s NNPP, where he secured a ticket and returned to the House in 2023.

In the past month, Jibrin has twice visited President Tinubu at the Villa, saying they discussed “issues of national development.” Analysts, however, interpret the visits as signals of an imminent defection to the APC. While he has denied plans to run for Kano South Senate seat in 2027, his name continues to be linked with the contest.

Alleged anti-party comments and expulsion from NNPP

Jibrin’s troubles in the NNPP came to a head after his recent interviews. On Channels Television, he argued that portraying the North as united against Tinubu was misleading. “For those saying they are going to defeat him, he must be sitting somewhere smiling because he can see how disunited we are,” he said.

He added: “When you say there is a gang-up or the North is uniting, we should stop deceiving ourselves. The North has always united against itself. Where is the unity? What we have always done is gang up to pull down anyone who rises from the region.” He also said nothing could stop the re-election of President Tinubu, who he said has his support.

Days later, on DCL Hausa, he hinted at the possibility of leaving the NNPP, saying: “Nothing is impossible. I can remain in NNPP, I can go back to APC, I can join ADC or PDP or even PRP. I can go wherever I like.”

Within 24 hours, the Kano NNPP announced his expulsion, accusing him of anti-party activities and failure to pay party dues.

State chairman Hashim Sulaiman Dungurawa described him as a “weak politician” who only won under Kwankwasiyya. He added: “Instead of dialogue, he went further to work against our interest, openly declaring loyalty outside the party. That is why we expelled him. He has no value to add.”

Dungurawa also vowed the party would sue to recover unpaid dues.

Reacting in a statement, Jibrin said the decision came as a “rude shock,” insisting due process was not followed. “No invitation was extended to me to defend or explain myself by any organ of the party,” he said.

While maintaining respect for Kwankwaso, he accused the NNPP of intolerance and argued that his remarks were in line with the party’s democratic ideals. He pledged to pay his dues once invoiced and called on his supporters to prepare for his “new journey.”

“I will carefully weigh all the options before me as I decide on my next political home. So help me God,” he concluded.

His expulsion has divided opinion. One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote: “After back-to-back State House visits and on-air cheerleading for President Tinubu’s 2027 bid, crying ‘no fair hearing’ reads like spin, not substance.”

Another said: “You were never really NNPP; you were just using the platform while working for APC. No integrity, no ideology, just where there’s food.”

Others accused him of opportunism, while some of his supporters urged patience until he announces his next political move.