Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani – Life, Legacy and Politics

Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani, a 51-year-old Nigerian politician, has emerged as a significant figure in Nigerian politics.

Born on 11th August 1971 in Kaduna city, she hails from an esteemed lineage, with her father, Dahiru Ahmed Chiroma, being the son of Ahmadu Malabu, an elder brother to Muhammed Ribadu, Nigeria’s first Defense Minister.

Aishatu Binani Early Life and Education

Aishatu Binani’s educational journey began in Kaduna and continued at Gwadabawa Primary School in Jimeta, Yola. She completed her secondary education at Government Secondary School, Yola.

To further enhance her skills and knowledge, Aishatu Binani pursued a certificate in Rural Radio Systems at the University of Southampton in the UK.

She also holds a postgraduate diploma in Business Management and a certificate in Data Processing from Nasarawa State University in Keffi. (Excerpts from Wikipedia).

Aishatu Binani Personal Life and Achievements

Aishatu Binani is married to Professor Ahmed Modibbo, a former Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and a highly prosperous individual in Adamawa State.

Political Career

In 2011, Aishatu Binani entered politics and was elected as a member of the 7th National Assembly, representing Yola North, Yola South, and Girei Constituency of Adamawa State in the House of Representatives under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

During her tenure, she served as the Chairman of the House Committee on Constituency Outreach and was a member of several other committees, including Appropriations, Land Transports, Millennium Development Goals, and Petroleum resources (Downstream) Public Service Matter.

Aishatu Binani’s impactful initiatives in the House of Representatives focused on healthcare services, educational development, agriculture, employment generation, and infrastructure development, addressing the diverse needs of her constituency.

After her tenure in the House of Representatives, Aishatu Binani contested for the Senatorial position representing Adamawa Central in 2019 as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

See also: General Sani Abacha, Life, Legacy and Death

She emerged victorious, securing a substantial number of votes and becoming the only female senator from northern Nigeria in the 9th National Assembly. As a senator, she assumed the role of Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), further solidifying her commitment to national development.

Binani Governorship Election

The 2023 Adamawa Governorship Election
In the 2023 general election, Binani set her sights on the position of Governor of Adamawa State.

Despite facing tough competition from prominent figures such as former Governor Muhammadu Jibrilla Bindow, Nuhu Ribadu, and Abdurazaq Namdas, Binani emerged as the surprising victor in the competitive primary election.

However, her victory was challenged by Nuhu Ribadu, who filed a lawsuit alleging irregularities in the primary election process.

The lawsuit raised concerns about the fairness of the primary election, involving allegations of vote buying, over-voting, and delegate inducement.

In October 2022, the Federal High Court in Yola nullified the primaries, but Binani chose to challenge the ruling at the Appeal Court.

In November, the Appeal Court reinstated her as the governorship candidate, allowing her to continue her candidacy.

Aishatu Binani Battles Fintiri

In the general election, Binani faced off against the incumbent Governor of Adamawa, Ahmadu Fintiri, who ran as the candidate of the PDP.

The election process witnessed an unfortunate incident when the resident electoral commissioner, Hudu Ari, made an illegal declaration of Binani as the winner of the poll during the collation of results on 15th April 2023.

This declaration stirred controversy and raised questions about the integrity of the electoral process.

In response, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) swiftly nullified Ari’s decision and suspended him from his position.

President Muhammad Buhari also ordered a thorough investigation into the conduct of the electoral commissioner and the security personnel present during the declaration.

Following the completion of the collation process, the official results, Governor Fintiri emerges as the winner, securing 430,861 votes.

Aishatu Binani attained the position of runner-up, garnering 398,738 votes.

Despite the controversies surrounding the election, Binani’s journey in Nigerian politics has been remarkable.

Her rise from being a member of the House of Representatives to becoming a senator and later contesting for the governorship position demonstrates her ambition and dedication to public service.

As the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), she has been actively involved in driving sustainable development initiatives in the country.

See also: Maryam Shetty, Arewa Social Change Champion

Aishatu Binani’s educational background in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, combined with her postgraduate diploma in Business Management, equips her with a diverse skill set to tackle the challenges of governance.

Her efforts in addressing the needs of her constituency and her commitment to various areas of development reflect her determination to make a positive impact on the lives of Nigerians.