Uba Sani credits Fawehinmi for opening Nigeria's political space through legal battle

Governor Uba Sani stated that Chief Gani Fawehinmi's fight against INEC's strict party registration rules opened Nigeria's political space, enabling more parties to form. Speaking at the Kaduna book launch for "Gani Fawehinmi And Uba Sani, A Tale Of Mentor And Mentee" on September 5, he recalled how Fawehinmi and Balarabe Musa challenged INEC in court, with the Court of Appeal ruling in their favor in 2002 and the Supreme Court affirming it in January 2003.

This legal victory directly enabled today's political plurality in Nigeria, where citizens can freely organize and form parties. Uba Sani emphasized that current democratic freedoms were secured through struggle, noting Fawehinmi's belief in empowering all citizens regardless of background. He also highlighted Fawehinmi's educational legacy through the scholarship foundation he coordinated, which aided over 1,000 indigent Northern Nigerian students who now contribute as professionals nationwide.

Uba Sani warned that Fawehinmi's concern about Northern Nigeria's educational backwardness remains relevant today, as many regional challenges stem from inadequate human capital investment. How might we honor such democratic and educational legacies in addressing current national challenges?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/09/06/fawehinmi-opened-up-political-space-for-opposition-uba-sani/