Former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has announced his intention to contest for the Katsina North Senatorial District seat in the 2027 general elections.
Sirika made the declaration on Friday at the secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Katsina, stating that the decision followed pressure from supporters urging him to return to elective office.
His announcement comes amid ongoing legal proceedings instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is prosecuting him over alleged abuse of office and the award of multi-billion naira contracts to family members during his tenure as minister.
Sirika previously served as a member of the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2007 before being elected to the Senate in 2011, representing Katsina North.
In 2023, during the final days of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, the aviation ministry under Sirika unveiled the proposed national carrier, Nigeria Air.
The project drew widespread scrutiny over its ownership structure, which allocated a 49 per cent stake to Ethiopian Airlines, 5 per cent to the federal government, and 46 per cent to a consortium of Nigerian investors.
