Former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, has joined the race for the Katsina North Senatorial district.
The former made the declaration at the APC State Secretariat on Friday.
He arrived at the Secretariat amidst a large crowd of supporters.
Sirika presented himself as an experienced and capable contender ready to represent the district at the National Assembly.
Sirika was a member of the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2007. He was later elected to the Senate in 2011.
He affirmed his commitment to respecting the party’s rules and processes ahead of the primaries.
Sirika expressed optimism that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would secure victory at the state and national level, adding that as part of his campaign strategy, he announced the launch of a political movement, “Dikko Kalas,” which he said would focus on grassroots mobilization through house-to-house engagement across the state.
In 2023, the aviation ministry, under Sirika, unveiled Nigeria Air — three days before the end of the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
The development elicited concerns among stakeholders nationwide over the ownership structure, which gave Ethiopian Airlines a 49 percent stake, while the government held 5 percent and a consortium of three Nigerian investors controlled 46 percent.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Sirika for alleged abuse of office and award of contracts worth billions of naira to his relatives during his tenure as aviation minister.